2012 Cheval Blanc
By Chateau Cheval Blanc
2012 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
Bordeaux aficionados may recall the challenging conditions faced in the 2012 vintage, a year of climatic complexities that called upon the astuteness and adaptability of vignerons throughout the region. Within this context, the 2012 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc emerges as a testament to stellar winemaking.
A Vintage Marked by Masterful Precision
The 2012 incarnation of Cheval Blanc did not have it easy, coming onto the scene after the much-feted 2009 and 2010 vintages. Nonetheless, it has proven to be a viticulture tour de force, demonstrating that excellent wines can emerge even from less-than-ideal conditions. With its nuanced bouquet and polished tannic structure, this wine is an investment-worthy masterpiece; velvety and rich yet with a freshness rarely achieved in this challenging year.
Sophisticated Elegance in a Complex Year
Upon tasting, the 2012 Cheval Blanc vividly illustrates what careful vineyard management and skilled winemaking can accomplish under capricious skies. The wine unfolds in layers of dark fruit intertwined with hints of tobacco leaf and graphite—hallmarks of its gravelled terroir spliced with loamy Saint-Emilion soil. There is a gracefulness to the mouthfeel, buoyed by a vibrant acidity that speaks to the meticulous timing of the harvest.
A considerable portion of Cabernet Franc contributes aromatic complexity and refinement to this blend—a distinctive feature for a wine from the right bank. Tight-knit yet expansive on the palate, this vintage encapsulates a profile that, while enjoyable now with proper decanting, promises further depth and elegance over time.
In summary, the 2012 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc represents not only a remarkable achievement for its vintage but also an alluring opportunity for collectors and investors seeking poise and longevity. Beyond its innate excellence, it stands as a prodigious example of Sant-Emilion's resilience and propensity for grace under pressure. Each glass poured reaffirms its place as one of the shining exemplars of Bordeaux's right bank—a wine decidedly worth investment consideration.
Market price (GBP)
£4,310.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
269.38
Scores and tasting notes
The Grand Vin is a blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc, 26th September until the 13th October that comes from 35 different parcels. The picking is done in the vineyard for the first sorting by the pickers and then sorted by hand as they are sure delicate than using optical sorting machine. It has a dense, broody nose that has the looming presence of the Quinault L'Enclos. It veers towards a red fruit profile, with 'rocky' aromas, perhaps a touch of marmalade and quince. The palate is medium-bodied but displays very good concentration for the vintages. It feels very harmonious
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Cheval Blanc reveals lovely cassis, warm black cherries and redcurrant jelly notions with underlying hints of cedar chest, garrigue, Indian spices and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it possesses wonderful energy and freshness on the palate with a beautifully poised ethereal nature and long mineral-tinged finish. This elegantly crafted beauty should enter its drinking window in a couple of years and cellar gracefully for another 20+ years.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 August 2018
The final blend for the 2012 Cheval Blanc was 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. Despite the use of 100% new oak, there is not a hint of vanillin, toast or espresso notes in the aromatic bouquet, which is filled with scents of black currants, sweet cherries, lavender, forest floor and a hint of underbrush. Concentrated with a surprisingly lofty alcohol level of 13.9% as well as a tannin level that equals their 2010 (a wine bestowed a three-digit score), this full-bodied, opulent 2012 has a pH of 3.8, which accounts for its suppleness, velvety texture and heady richness. It is a great success in this vintage. It will be approachable early given its silky structural aspects, and should last for two decades.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #206
This is really beautiful with blackberry, chocolate, and light nuts character. Full yet refined and beautiful. Seamless tannins. It goes on for minutes. This is so elegant and beautiful. The tannins are just right and not overdone for the vintage.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 4th 2013