Château Cheval Blanc
1950 is a superb vintage, combining quantity and quality. It has been somewhat overlooked because of the reputation of the three previous years: 1947-1948-1949. The wine is very complete and rich.
1950 is a superb vintage, combining quantity and quality. It has been somewhat overlooked because of the reputation of the three previous years: 1947-1948-1949. The wine is very complete and rich.
Water balance
The fine weather in 1950 was conducive to good vegetative growth, especially during bud burst. There was also sufficient water stress to produce good fruit. That is because grapes need to gradually experience a water deficit to achieve optimum concentration.
Growing season
The fine weather this year was ideal for the vine growth. Flowering took place under perfect conditions and yields amounted to 56.4 hectolitres per hectare. The harvest began on the 18th of September and finished on the 6th of October.
Fermentation was kept under control, even if by somewhat archaic methods – there was not even an electric pump at the time. After this harvest, former owners Jacques and Joseph Fourcaud-Laussac built a 3rd cellar with rubble stone. The lack of space (necessitating the constant moving around of barrels) forced cellarmaster Gaston Vaissière to be very imaginative….
The wine had 13° alcohol.
| Begin | End | |
| 1950 harvest date | September, 18th | October, 6th |
| Average harvest dates: 1946-2014 | September, 24th | October, 8th |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
| 1950 yield (hl/ha) | Average yield: 1946 to 2014 | |
| 56.4 | 33.9 | |
Tasting
Somewhat overshadowed by the 1947-1948-1949 trilogy, 1950 Cheval Blanc is a very good year that has aged remarkably well.
Combining quantity and quality, it has proved to be close to a textbook great vintage at Cheval Blanc: balanced, elegant, and with great finesse. This is a wine that has everything and is quite rich, with hints of chocolate and macerated grapes. The nose features floral overtones. It is very delicate on the palate with candied fruit nuances.
This vintage has not finished developing after 64 years.Somewhat overshadowed by the 1947-1948-1949 trilogy, 1950 Cheval Blanc is a very good year that has aged remarkably well.
Combining quantity and quality, it has proved to be close to a textbook great vintage at Cheval Blanc: balanced, elegant, and with great finesse. This is a wine that has everything and is quite rich, with hints of chocolate and macerated grapes. The nose features floral overtones. It is very delicate on the palate with candied fruit nuances.
This vintage has not finished developing after 64 years.