Château Cheval Blanc
This was an outstanding, classic vintage marked by very dry and relatively cool weather. 1998 Cheval Blanc is both ethereal and rich, powerful and classy, with a very pure style.
This was an outstanding, classic vintage marked by very dry and relatively cool weather. 1998 Cheval Blanc is both ethereal and rich, powerful and classy, with a very pure style.
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
After a dry month of May, precipitation was close to average in June and July. August was very dry. Temperatures were fairly average during the growing season, although May and August were warmer than usual, and July cooler than most years. September started out warm with light showers. However, the weather cooled down after the 10th of September, at which time it started to rain. 1998 is an excellent vintage despite these September rains.
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 water deficit was significant in August. This naturally stopped vine growth and channelled vigour into ripening grapes that became very concentrated.
Growing season
Le Bud break took place three days before the average date, while flowering and véraison happened at the usual times. The cool weather that set in starting on the 11th of September stopped the spread of grey rot. All the Merlot grapes were picked before the heavy rain on the 27th of Septembe.
| Phenological stage | Merlot 1998 |
Average 1994-2014 | Cabernet franc 1998 |
Average 1994-2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud break | March, 25th | March, 28th | March, 29th | April, 2nd |
| Flowering | June, 3rd | May, 30th | June, 4th | June, 1st |
| Véraison | August, 5th | August, 2nd | August, 9th | August, 8th |
| Beginning of the Harvest | September, 21st | September, 19th | September, 28th | September, 27th |
| End of the Harvest | September, 25th | September, 27th | October, 5th | October, 5th |
| Number of days between… | ||||
| Bud break and Flowering | 71 days | 63 days | 68 days | 60 days |
| Flowering and Véraison | 64 days | 64 days | 67 days | 68 days |
| Véraison and Harvest | 48 days | 48 days | 51 days | 50 days |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
Thanks to the dry weather in August, vegetative growth stopped early. This was propitious to the ripening of small berries with a high concentration of sugar and phenolic compounds. Colour, as well as these phenolic compounds, were easily extracted during maceration. The Merlot averaged 13° alcohol. The quality of this Merlot was outstanding, and the Cabernet Franc was good as well. Yields were low: 32 hectolitres per hectare.
| 1998 yields (hl/ha) | Average from 1996 to 2014 | |
| Merlot | 31 | 38.9 |
| Cabernet franc | 32.2 | 34.2 |
Cellar work
Comprising 10% press wine, 1997 Cheval Blanc was aged in 100% new oak barrels.
Blending
| Degree of alcohol | 13 |
|---|---|
| Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) | 3.7 |
| Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) | 0.59 |
| pH | 3.42 |
| Total SO2 (mg/L) | 100 |
| Reducing sugar content (g/L) | 1.2 |
| IPT (DO280) | 77 |
Tasting
1998 Cheval Blanc is an outstanding vintage in a classic style typical of the château. It is not only rich and powerful, but also remarkably well-balanced.
The intense deep ruby-red colour features brilliant highlights and a browning rim.
The nose is rich and concentrated with polished, well-focused ripe black fruit aromas as well as notes of tobacco, truffle, and cedar. The bouquet also features empyreumatic, roasted notes of cocoa and almonds that are balanced by very fresh eucalyptus and bay leaf nuances.
The wine is round and rich on the palate, with very pure, well-defined flavours. The tasty aftertaste is impressively complex and elegant. In addition, the fine, rich tannic texture shows no aggressiveness whatsoever. The aftertaste is tremendously long, with an ethereal finish that goes on and on – the sign of a wine of distinction.
The 1998 vintage is pure, remarkably focused, and complex, with a rich, powerful, perfectly balanced flavour. It needs to be kept a long time to reveal its full potential.1998 Cheval Blanc is an outstanding vintage in a classic style typical of the château. It is not only rich and powerful, but also remarkably well-balanced.
The intense deep ruby-red colour features brilliant highlights and a browning rim.
The nose is rich and concentrated with polished, well-focused ripe black fruit aromas as well as notes of tobacco, truffle, and cedar. The bouquet also features empyreumatic, roasted notes of cocoa and almonds that are balanced by very fresh eucalyptus and bay leaf nuances.
The wine is round and rich on the palate, with very pure, well-defined flavours. The tasty aftertaste is impressively complex and elegant. In addition, the fine, rich tannic texture shows no aggressiveness whatsoever. The aftertaste is tremendously long, with an ethereal finish that goes on and on – the sign of a wine of distinction.
The 1998 vintage is pure, remarkably focused, and complex, with a rich, powerful, perfectly balanced flavour. It needs to be kept a long time to reveal its full potential.