Château Cheval Blanc
This was a warm, but not a dry year, with generous yields. The wines are delicious and opened up quite early although they continue to provide a great deal of pleasure.
This was a warm, but not a dry year, with generous yields. The wines are delicious and opened up quite early although they continue to provide a great deal of pleasure.
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
The winter of 1999 was mild, with just about average rainfall. This was also a warm year, making for early phenolic maturity. Summer precipitation was close to average, and showers were spread out evenly. September was warm and wet.
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. On the whole, rainfall was fairly regular this year. However, the high temperatures caused significant evaporation, despite the lack of any one extremely dry period. Moderately strong water stress set in starting in early September.
Growing season
The 1999 growing season was largely in keeping with average weather conditions since 1996. Mid-véraison occurred on the 2rd of August for Merlot and the 8th of August for Cabernet Franc. There was little discrepancy between different plots of the same grape variety. Véraison took place very quickly, presaging homogeneous ripening. Vegetative growth stopped late in the season. Merlot was picked between the 14th and 21st of September, and mostly before rain on the 19th of September. It was Cabernet Franc’s turn from the 22nd to the 28th of September.
| Phenological stage | Merlot 1999 |
Average 1994-2014 | Cabernet franc 1999 |
Average 1994-2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud break | March, 28th | March, 28th | April, 1st | April, 2nd |
| Flowering | May, 29th | May, 30th | May, 31st | June, 1st |
| Véraison | August, 2nd | August, 2nd | August, 8th | August, 8th |
| Beginning of the Harvest | September, 14th | September, 19th | September, 22nd | September, 27th |
| End of the Harvest | September, 21st | September, 27th | September, 28th | October, 5th |
| Number of days between… | ||||
| Bud break and Flowering | 63 days | 63 days | 61 days | 60 days |
| Flowering and Véraison | 66 days | 64 days | 70 days | 68 days |
| Véraison and Harvest | 44 days | 48 days | 46 days | 50 days |
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
Despite a fairly wet summer, the potential was very good. The concentration of phenolic compounds was high, especially in light of the astonishingly light weight of the berries when one considers the minimal water stress during summer. The balance between sugar and acidity in Merlot was very interesting. Some of the Cabernet Franc was not entirely ripe, with relatively low sugar levels, but showed no trace of herbaceousness.
Yields were largely above average.
| 1999 yields (hl/ha) | Average from 1996 to 2014 | |
| Merlot | 53.0 | 38.9 |
| Cabernet franc | 51.4 | 34.2 |
Cellar work
Including 10% press wine, with 8% of the wine bled off fermentation vats, 1999 Cheval Blanc was aged in 100% new oak barrels.
Blending
1999 shows a beautiful synergy between concentrated, but slightly austere Merlot and elegant, very aromatic Cabernet Franc. The final blend consists of 61% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.
| Degree of alcohol | 13 |
|---|---|
| Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) | 3.4 |
| Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) | 0.58 |
| pH | 3.46 |
| Total SO2 (mg/L) | 100 |
| Reducing sugar content (g/L) | 1.1 |
| IPT (DO280) | – |
Tasting
This was a warm year, but one without any drought periods. Yields were relatively high and there was a great synergy between Merlot and Cabernet Franc that ended up producing an extremely pleasurable wine.
The deep intense colour shows bricking in keeping with its age.
The nose is concentrated with very ripe black fruit and crème de cassis aromas, as well as hints of chocolate, orange, violet, and liquorice. The oak is well-integrated with empyreumatic nuances of toasted almonds. Perfectly defined tertiary aromas have appeared over time: truffle, forest floor, and fruit in brandy. 1999 Cheval Blanc has remained very fresh.
It starts out very flavoursome and velvety on the palate, with plenty of fruit and a hint of cedar. This smooth, silky Cheval Blanc has great length, although without the concentration of great vintages.
This vintage has opened up quickly and is already proving to be charming and delicious. It provides a great deal of pleasure and has reached its peak. 1999 Cheval Blanc epitomises the synergy between concentrated, but well-balanced Merlot, and elegant, aromatic Cabernet Franc.This was a warm year, but one without any drought periods. Yields were relatively high and there was a great synergy between Merlot and Cabernet Franc that ended up producing an extremely pleasurable wine.
The deep intense colour shows bricking in keeping with its age.
The nose is concentrated with very ripe black fruit and crème de cassis aromas, as well as hints of chocolate, orange, violet, and liquorice. The oak is well-integrated with empyreumatic nuances of toasted almonds. Perfectly defined tertiary aromas have appeared over time: truffle, forest floor, and fruit in brandy. 1999 Cheval Blanc has remained very fresh.
It starts out very flavoursome and velvety on the palate, with plenty of fruit and a hint of cedar. This smooth, silky Cheval Blanc has great length, although without the concentration of great vintages.
This vintage has opened up quickly and is already proving to be charming and delicious. It provides a great deal of pleasure and has reached its peak. 1999 Cheval Blanc epitomises the synergy between concentrated, but well-balanced Merlot, and elegant, aromatic Cabernet Franc.