Château Cheval Blanc
The cool and wet 1960 growing season was not exactly ideal. The wine was rather light, but pleasantly aromatic in its youth. It never showed great ageing potential and is presently charmingly discreet and slowly fading.
The cool and wet 1960 growing season was not exactly ideal. The wine was rather light, but pleasantly aromatic in its youth. It never showed great ageing potential and is presently charmingly discreet and slowly fading.
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
After a moderately warm and fairly dry month of April, temperatures were largely above average in May and June. Rainfall was close to normal. Weather that summer was poor: very cool and very wet, especially in August and September.
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. Furthermore, showers in August and September prevented water stress from occurring. The vines thus had an abundant supply of water all through the summer.
Growing season
The harvest began later than expected, on the 2nd of October, due to poor weather. Picking ended on the 15th of October and the overall yield was just 26 hectolitres per hectare.
Degree of alcohol: 12°.
| Begin | End | |
| 1960 harvest dates | October, 2nd | October, 15th |
| Average harvest dates: 1946-2014 | September, 24th | October, 8th |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
| 1960 yield (hl/ha) | Average yield: 1946 to 2014 | |
| 26.0 | 33.9 | |
Tasting
The nose opens with hot milk, cocoa powder and chocolate. Very floral and very fresh, it also offers an intense and complex nose of red fruits accompanied by light mint and licorice notes.
The palate is fresh and very straight, tended towards caramel and mocha. The completely fine tannic structure continues until a tighter and tannic finish.Pleasant and much-appreciated in the 1960s and 70s, this vintage is now past its peak.
Despite the cool, wet weather during the growing season, the grand vin – although light – was aromatic and attractive in its youth.
While Cheval Blanc’s terroir still comes through in the texture, what is mostly left behind after the wine’s quick development is a discreet charm.The nose opens with hot milk, cocoa powder and chocolate. Very floral and very fresh, it also offers an intense and complex nose of red fruits accompanied by light mint and licorice notes.
The palate is fresh and very straight, tended towards caramel and mocha. The completely fine tannic structure continues until a tighter and tannic finish.
Pleasant and much-appreciated in the 1960s and 70s, this vintage is now past its peak.
Despite the cool, wet weather during the growing season, the grand vin – although light – was aromatic and attractive in its youth.
While Cheval Blanc’s terroir still comes through in the texture, what is mostly left behind after the wine’s quick development is a discreet charm.