2010 Le Petit Cheval
By Chateau Cheval Blanc
2010 Le Petit Cheval from Château Cheval Blanc, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
In the splendid tapestry of Bordeaux wines, the 2010 vintage of Saint-Émilion not only stands out for its excellence but reigns as a testament to the sublime craft executed by Château Cheval Blanc. The sibling to the illustrious Grand Vin, 2010 Le Petit Cheval, has woven its own narrative in a year deemed exceptional for the region.
A Vintage Distinct in Stature and Grace
The 2010 vintage was marked by ideal climatic conditions; a prolonged drought and cool nights undoubtedly paired to curate what can only be described as an enological pièce de résistance. This felicitous assemblage birthed a Le Petit Cheval with a finesse that's only paralleled by its elder's prestige. The wine emanates a palette of deep, robust red and black fruits underlain by sophisticated tannins - a product of its time, lavishing investors and aficionados alike with a structure that promises longevity.
Elegance Worthy of Investment
With the clout of its name, Château Cheval Blanc, this offering is magnetic to those wise in investment and enriched in palate. Its taste profile is an intricate ballet of flavour – plums dance with cherries, accompanied by the spice orchestra’s delicate yet assertive performance. Such excellence in composition serves to elevate 2010 Le Petit Cheval's potential as not merely a sensory indulgence but also a prudent financial beacon.
The brilliance of this Saint-Émilion treasure is unmarred by time, casting an imbued shadow across the future of fine wine collecting with unwavering character and reliability in maturation. Engaging deeply with this vintage is like conversing with history - one where every sip encompasses layers of hushed Bordeaux whispers from an extraordinary year.
To sip on the 2010 Le Petit Cheval from Château Cheval Blanc is to partake in an exceptional chapter of vinicultural mastery. Herein lies not just a superb wine to savor but also an astute addition to any discerning investor's portfolio, crystallizing its repute as a paragon vintage brimming with poise and potential.
Market price (USD)
$2,370.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
129.33
Scores and tasting notes
The second wine of Cheval shows such glorious yet subtle fruit with chocolate, dark berries such as blackberries, and a light spice character. A walnut undertone. It's soft and silky with wonderful balance and beauty. It goes on for minutes. Hard not to drink now.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, November 14th 2013
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Le Petit Cheval sashays out of the glass with expressive notes of warm black cherries, boysenberries and preserved plums plus wafts of mocha and cigar box. Full-bodied, the palate has firm, ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the generous baked berries and earthy layers, finishing long and perfumed.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 5 March 2020
The best second wine I have ever tasted from Cheval Blanc is the 2010 Le Petit Cheval. This wine is essentially three-fourths Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Rivaling the brilliant 2009, thirty percent of the production from this monstrously sized estate made it into this wine, which offers up plenty of white chocolate, cassis and mulberry as well as a hint of roasted herbs. With fleshy, round flavors, full-bodied texture and an amazing finish, this is no second wine, and considerably better than some of the Cheval Blancs of the 1960s and 1970s! Drink it over the next 15 or so years.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #205
Representing just 20% of the production, the Le Petit Cheval has a fragrant bouquet with tertiary, blackberry notes, sous-bois and tobacco. It has fine transparency and lift. The palate is medium-bodied with quite an austere, but very well balanced, opening. It is almost like a Left Bank wine with its earthy, foursquare finish. Yet it has wonderful freshness and vitality and should aged well for 10-15 years. Tasted November 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Mar 2013