Château Cheval Blanc
2000 was fairly warm and very dry.
Petit Cheval is powerful, complex, and beautifully balanced in this very great vintage.
2000 was fairly warm and very dry.
Petit Cheval is powerful, complex, and beautifully balanced in this very great vintage.
Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle
Temperatures and rainfall
Other than the cold and dry month of January, winter was wet and mild. Spring was also temperate and rainy until mid-May. After a dry, warm month of June, July was once again rainy (69 mm). However, a long dry period set in starting on the 27th of July. This lasted all the way until the end of the harvest.
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. A definite water deficit existed starting in mid-summer. Despite the rain in July, this deficit not only continued, but increased due to the low precipitation in August and September. This brought about an early end to vegetative growth in mid-August, which was particularly conducive to subsequent ripening.
Growing season
Taking place in the first week of April for both Merlot and Cabernet franc, bud break was slightly later than average. However, this was made up for soon thereafter because the dates for flowering and véraison are close to average. The harvest was early, starting on the 14th of September for Merlot and the 22nd of that month for Cabernet Franc.
| Phenological stage | Merlot 2000 |
Average 1994-2014 | Cabernet franc 2000 |
Average 1994-2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bud break | April, 1st | March, 28th | April, 7th | April, 2nd |
| Flowering | May, 30th | May, 30th | June, 1st | June, 1st |
| Véraison | August, 2nd | August, 2nd | August, 8th | August, 8th |
| Beginning of the Harvest | 14 septembre | September, 19th | September, 22th | September, 27th |
| End of the Harvest | September, 14th | September, 27th | September, 28th | 5 octobre |
| Number of days between… | ||||
| Bud break and Flowering | 60 days | 63 days | 56 days | 60 days |
| Flowering and Véraison | 65 days | 64 days | 69 days | 68 days |
| Véraison and Harvest | 44 days | 48 days | 46 days | 50 days |
A wet spring, at the beginning of the growth cycle, was accompanied by an attack of mildew, but flowering went very well thanks to a dry spell starting on the 17th of May. Beautiful weather at the end of July was ideal for ripening. The grapes were in perfect condition because there was no grey rot whatsoever in either Merlot or Cabernet Franc.
Features of the vintage
Ripening and yields
The composition of the ripe grapes was balanced and impeccable. Sugar levels were good, as was the concentration of anthocyanins despite the slightly greater-than-average weight of the grapes (more than in 1998 and 1999). The quality of the grapes was relatively homogeneous, even if there were obviously differences due to specific grape varieties on specific plots. Fruit from dry gravel soils tended to have low sugar levels, but the small berries there nevertheless guaranteed a good concentration of phenolic compounds. On the other hand, grapes grown on clay soils were very sweet. One vat reached 14.9° alcohol and no vat of Merlot weighte in at less than 13.2°.
The weather during the harvest was particularly fine, and there was only one day with rain (on the 20th of September).
| 2000 yields (hl/ha) | Average from 1996 to 2014 | |
| Merlot | 49.7 | 38.9 |
| Cabernet Franc | 36.0 | 34.2 |
Cellar work
Including 10% press wine, 2000 Petit Cheval was aged in 100% new oak barrels.
Blending
Like the grand vin, the blend is evenly balanced between Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
| Degree of alcohol | 13 |
|---|---|
| Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) | 3.4 |
| Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) | 0.56 |
| pH | 3.46 |
| Total SO2 (mg/L) | 93 |
| Reducing sugar content (g/L) | 1.1 |
| IPT (DO280) | – |
Tasting
The grapes were exceptionally rich and concentrated this year, and Petit Cheval displays a great balance between power, complexity, and aromatic purity.
The colour is deep and intense, and is barely showing any signs of age.
The nose is very fruity and rich, with aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, and fruit in brandy. The very pure bouquet goes on to reveal elegant overtones of oak that fit in beautifully.
The wine starts out quite powerful on the palate, but remains fresh and smooth. The tannin is unctuous and the fruit exuberant. Blackcurrant predominates in a very complex flavour profile. The aftertaste is extremely long and provides the perfect finish to this delicious and perfectly-balanced wine.
This is a great Petit Cheval that is already a delight to drink, although it still has considerable freshness and ageing potential.The grapes were exceptionally rich and concentrated this year, and Petit Cheval displays a great balance between power, complexity, and aromatic purity.
The colour is deep and intense, and is barely showing any signs of age.
The nose is very fruity and rich, with aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, and fruit in brandy. The very pure bouquet goes on to reveal elegant overtones of oak that fit in beautifully.
The wine starts out quite powerful on the palate, but remains fresh and smooth. The tannin is unctuous and the fruit exuberant. Blackcurrant predominates in a very complex flavour profile. The aftertaste is extremely long and provides the perfect finish to this delicious and perfectly-balanced wine.
This is a great Petit Cheval that is already a delight to drink, although it still has considerable freshness and ageing potential.