Château Cheval Blanc
1994 was warm and dry in summer, but suffered from heavy showers in September. After a Merlot-type year in 1993, 1994 reflects the finesse and freshness of excellent Cabernet Franc grapes.
1994 was warm and dry in summer, but suffered from heavy showers in September. After a Merlot-type year in 1993, 1994 reflects the finesse and freshness of excellent Cabernet Franc grapes.
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
1994 was a warm vintage, with an average temperature of 14.3°C, i.e. 1.4°C more than usual. Total rainfall was also much greater than usual, but the distribution was uneven. The beginning of the growing season was wet and mild, accompanied however in early April by cool temperatures usual for that time of year. July and August were very hot and rather dry. The weather became much more cool starting on the 7th of September, and it rained a great deal until the end of the month.
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 dry part of the growing season occurred much earlier than in 1993 despite the rain in the month of June. Warm weather in July and August brought about early water stress and a stop to vegetative growth. However, heavy showers starting on the 8th of September cancelled out most of the water stress.
Growing season
Budbreak took place early in 1994: the 16th of March for Merlot and the 20th of March for Cabernet Franc – the same as in 1990. Mid-flowering took place on the 31st of May for both varieties, and véraison occurred in early August: on the 3rd for Merlot and the 7th for Cabernet Franc. The harvest began early, on the 16nd of September and lasted until the 29th of that month.
| Phenological stage | Merlot 1994 |
Average 1994-2014 |
Cabernet franc 1994 |
Average 1994-2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud break | March, 16th | March, 28th | March, 20th | April, 2nd |
| Flowering | May, 31st | May, 30th | May, 31st | June, 1st |
| Véraison | August, 3rd | August, 2nd | August, 7th | August, 8th |
| Beginning of the Harvest | September, 16th | September, 19th | September, 22th | September, 27th |
| End of the Harvest | September, 22th | September, 27th | September, 29th | October, 5th |
| Number of days between … | ||||
| Bud break and Flowering | 76 days | 63 days | 72 days | 60 days |
| Flowering and Véraison | 64 days | 64 days | 68 days | 68 days |
| Véraison and Harves | 40 days | 48 days | 46 days | 50 days |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
After a period of quick ripening, the accumulation of sugar and phenolic compounds slowed down due to rain in the latter part of September. Both the Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes were nevertheless ripe when it came time to pick, with low acidity and average sugar levels. Yields were greater than average for Merlot, but very low for Cabernet Franc. However, the latter was particularly aromatic. The weight of the berries was above average. This was probably due to the rain in September that accounted for a certain dilution.
| 1994 yield (hl/ha) | Average yield: 1946 to 2014 | |
| 42.0 | 33.9 | |
Blending
| Degree of alcohol | 12.5 |
|---|---|
| Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) | 3.35 |
| Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) | 0.59 |
| pH | 3.47 |
| Total SO2 (mg/L) | 120 |
| Reducing sugar content (g/L) | 1.0 |
| IPT (DO280) | 60 |
Tasting
This was a warm, dry year marked by September showers that caused a slight dilution in the grapes.
The colour is a deep ruby-red with a brick-red rim just about right for its age.
Powerful, elegant, and complex, 1994 Cheval Blanc has a fine nose of red fruit, spice, and roasted aromas of cocoa, caramel, coffee, and vanilla. There are also tertiary elements of cedar and banana.
The wine starts out quite fresh and refined, with a silky mouth feel and great complexity. 1994 Cheval Blanc tastes like a fruit cocktail in which cherry is the prevailing flavour. The tannic texture is fine-grained and the wine is light on its feet. It is nevertheless intense from beginning to end, with a beautiful aftertaste in which Cabernet Franc’s remarkable aromatic intensity comes through, despite its low proportion in the final blend.
Although not as rich as 1995, this vintage reflects the all finesse and originality of Cabernet Franc. 1994 Cheval Blanc is presently at its peak and ready to drink.This was a warm, dry year marked by September showers that caused a slight dilution in the grapes.
The colour is a deep ruby-red with a brick-red rim just about right for its age.
Powerful, elegant, and complex, 1994 Cheval Blanc has a fine nose of red fruit, spice, and roasted aromas of cocoa, caramel, coffee, and vanilla. There are also tertiary elements of cedar and banana.
The wine starts out quite fresh and refined, with a silky mouth feel and great complexity. 1994 Cheval Blanc tastes like a fruit cocktail in which cherry is the prevailing flavour. The tannic texture is fine-grained and the wine is light on its feet. It is nevertheless intense from beginning to end, with a beautiful aftertaste in which Cabernet Franc’s remarkable aromatic intensity comes through, despite its low proportion in the final blend.
Although not as rich as 1995, this vintage reflects the all finesse and originality of Cabernet Franc. 1994 Cheval Blanc is presently at its peak and ready to drink.