Château Cheval Blanc 1953

Château Cheval Blanc

The weather in 1953 was very favourable to vine growth and the crop was both plentiful and of excellent quality.
This is a great vintage for Cheval Blanc. The wine is very well-balanced and still elicits enormous praise.

The weather in 1953 was very favourable to vine growth and the crop was both plentiful and of excellent quality.
This is a great vintage for Cheval Blanc. The wine is very well-balanced and still elicits enormous praise.

Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle

Temperatures and rainfall

The growing season began with a warm, wet April, followed by a very warm, but dry month of May.  June and July were cool and rainy, whereas August and September were dry and slightly warmer than average.

1953 : TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL COMPARED WITH NORMAL VALUES IN SAINT-EMILION

Water balance

In order to grow well, vines need water stress to set in slowly so that the grapes will ripen well and become concentrated. The rain in June and July forestalled water stress, which nevertheless occurred late in the season thanks to dry, sunny weather in August and September.

1953 WATER BALANCE

Growing season

Flowering went very well in May because it did not rain very much. Even though June and July were cool, which slowed down the growth cycle somewhat, the harvest was able to begin on the 21st of September. The grapes were excellent because August and September we very dry and hot.  Yields were high, but 1953 Cheval Blanc shows that quantity and quality are not incompatible.
Degree of alcohol: 12°.

Begin End
1953 harvest dates September, 21st October, 7th
Average harvest dates: 1946-2014 September, 24th October, 8th

 

 

Features of the vintage

Ripening and yields

1953 yield    (hl/ha) Average yield: 1946 to 2014
52.4 33.9

 

Tasting

1953 is a very great vintage for Château Cheval Blanc with remarkable balance and complexity. Merlot was particularly successful in the very classic 1953 vintage, which is the epitome of a great Cheval Blanc. It has great aromatic complexity in a blend consisting mostly of Cabernet Franc. Both the bouquet and the palate reveal superb hints of tobacco, spice, dried flowers, cardamom, and forest floor. The wine is remarkably elegant and rich on the palate. It is also quite tannic, but this tannin is smooth and unctuous, leading up seamlessly to the remarkably fresh aftertaste. Displaying sublime structure and precision, this is an emotional wine to drink.
Tastings
07/07/2015
12/01/2015

1953 is a very great vintage for Château Cheval Blanc with remarkable balance and complexity.

Merlot was particularly successful in the very classic 1953 vintage, which is the epitome of a great Cheval Blanc. It has great aromatic complexity in a blend consisting mostly of Cabernet Franc.

Both the bouquet and the palate reveal superb hints of tobacco, spice, dried flowers, cardamom, and forest floor. The wine is remarkably elegant and rich on the palate. It is also quite tannic, but this tannin is smooth and unctuous, leading up seamlessly to the remarkably fresh aftertaste.

Displaying sublime structure and precision, this is an emotional wine to drink.