Château Cheval Blanc 1955

Château Cheval Blanc

Very Favourable weather enabled 1955 to produce a sizeable crop of very good quality. The wine is rich, powerful, and gives the impression of being sweet. It continues to show surprising structure and a wonderful bouquet. Recently, it was one of the favourite wines in a large vertical tasting of Cheval Blanc.

Very Favourable weather enabled 1955 to produce a sizeable crop of very good quality. The wine is rich, powerful, and gives the impression of being sweet. It continues to show surprising structure and a wonderful bouquet. Recently, it was one of the favourite wines in a large vertical tasting of Cheval Blanc.

Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle

Temperatures and rainfall

The growing season began in April, which was perfectly dry (0 mm of precipitation) and warm. June and July, on the other hand, were wet and hot. Drought conditions prevailed in August and September, whereas the average temperatures in September contributed a certain freshness to the wine. 1955 was, on the whole, a warm vintage that benefited from dry weather during the harvest.

1955 : TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL COMPARED WITH NORMAL VALUES IN SAINT-EMILION

Water balance

In order to grow well, the vine needs for water stress to set in slowly so the grapes to ripen well and become concentrated. The abundant rainfall in June and July had provided more than enough water to the vines. However, dry weather in August and September meant that a slight water stress at the end of the growing season was very beneficial to quality. The weather was beautiful during the harvest.

1955 WATER BALANCE

Growing season

There was enough water at the beginning of the growth cycle for good development. The Indian summer was ideal for ripening.
Degree of alcohol: 13°
The yield was high for this period: 42 hectolitres per hectare
The 1955 vintage was aged in 6-year-old barrels.

Begin End
1955 harvest dates September, 20th October, 6th
Average harvest dates: 1946-2014 September, 24th October, 8th

 

Features of the vintage

Ripening and yields

1955 yield    (hl/ha) Average yield: 1946 to 2014
42.2 33.9

 

Tasting

This is an amazing vintage with an exquisite bouquet and a successful balance between concentration and finesse on the palate. This great wine is silky, delicious, and more vivacious than the excellent 1953, which proves that high yields (42 hectolitres per hectare) are not incompatible with subtle favours. This quality is largely thanks to dry weather from early spring until the end of summer and on through to the harvest. 1955 Cheval Blanc is extremely pleasant and is still in demand from collectors looking for good surprises.
Tastings
15/04/2010

This is an amazing vintage with an exquisite bouquet and a successful balance between concentration and finesse on the palate.

This great wine is silky, delicious, and more vivacious than the excellent 1953, which proves that high yields (42 hectolitres per hectare) are not incompatible with subtle favours. This quality is largely thanks to dry weather from early spring until the end of summer and on through to the harvest.

1955 Cheval Blanc is extremely pleasant and is still in demand from collectors looking for good surprises.