Château Cheval Blanc
This was an outstanding, classic vintage marked by very dry and relatively cool weather.
This vintage of Petit Cheval was made primarily from Cabernet Franc. It is very fruity, well-balanced, and has outstanding length.
This was an outstanding, classic vintage marked by very dry and relatively cool weather.
This vintage of Petit Cheval was made primarily from Cabernet Franc. It is very fruity, well-balanced, and has outstanding length.
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 | 31.0 | 38.9 |
| Cabernet franc | 32.2 | 34.2 |
Cellar work
Comprising 9% press wine, 1998 Petit Cheval was aged in 100% new oak barrels.
Blending
| Degree of alcohol | 12.5 |
|---|---|
| Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) | 3.46 |
| Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) | 0.6 |
| pH | 3.42 |
| Total SO2 (mg/L) | 80 |
| Reducing sugar content (g/L) | 0.8 |
| IPT (DO280) | 77 |
Tasting
This is a magnificent Petit Cheval: fruity, full-bodied, and very complex.
Much of the pretty, deep, ruby-red colour of its youth remains.
The nose is very intense and expressive: Morello cherry, strawberry, cherry, and orange zest. There are also understated overtones of oak and a touch of menthol.
The wine starts out quite fresh, well-focused, and aromatic, with a mint-like quality. Ripe red fruit comes through on the middle palate. The tannin is tight and full of character. The fruity, exceptionally long aftertaste is pure and perfectly polished.
1998 Petit Cheval is an outstanding second wine, from beginning to end.This is a magnificent Petit Cheval: fruity, full-bodied, and very complex.
Much of the pretty, deep, ruby-red colour of its youth remains.
The nose is very intense and expressive: Morello cherry, strawberry, cherry, and orange zest. There are also understated overtones of oak and a touch of menthol.
The wine starts out quite fresh, well-focused, and aromatic, with a mint-like quality. Ripe red fruit comes through on the middle palate. The tannin is tight and full of character. The fruity, exceptionally long aftertaste is pure and perfectly polished.
1998 Petit Cheval is an outstanding second wine, from beginning to end.