Le Petit Cheval 2023

There’s depth of fruit, good structure and freshness in this black-cherry and chocolate-scented wine. It’s full-bodied, yet it tightens up on the finish. Toned, muscular and crisp. 10% of the production of Cheval. 50% merlot and 50% cabernet franc.

50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot. 5 plots are dedicated to the Petit-Cheval; 3 of Merlot and 2 of Franc. The wine is matured 100% in Cheval barrels. It's been a generous year for Cheval-Blanc," explains Nicolas Corporandy. The flowering was very dense, as was the veraison, and the final yield was over 40 hl/ha. The bouquet is very fresh, with notes of eucalyptus, peony and liquorice. The silky texture on the palate underlines the elegance of the wine. The tannins are perfectly integrated and provide a reliable base with strength, but above all harmony, which is the red thread of this wine. A lean, fresh wine. 2028-2040

Intense purple colour. Very aromatic, fine, clean, fruity nose. Hints of tar. It gets better when you shake the glass. Notes of raspberry, violet and vanilla. On the palate, when the light body mixes with the depth of flavour, you get Petit Cheval and, this year, a fine return of black fruit. Blend: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol content: 13°6 - pH: 3.85. Selection: 10% of the harvest. Yield: 40 hl/ha.

There are only 15,000 bottles of the 2023 Le Petit Cheval, a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc that didn't have quite the plenitude of the grand vin. Offering up an attractive bouquet of minty berries, cherries, plums and petals, it's medium-bodied, pillowy and vibrant, with polished tannins and a bright core of fruit. I suspect that a bit of patience will be rewarded by more fat and texture. William Kelley