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Cheval Blanc's ability, after several decades of ageing, to reach the heights is a plus that only the greatest wines are capable of offering. This ageing potential is due to infinite care in winemaking – literally thousands of meticulous operations from the time the first buds burst up until bottling – and the wine's intrinsic delicate balance. This fragile equilibrium can suffer from a bad storage of the wine at any time.
One of the winelover's greatest pleasures is to go into the cellar and look at his bottles, like a parent contemplating his children. The conditions under which wine is stored for years is thus of great importance.
Like a library, a cellar should be a calm place conducive to meditation. It should also be exempt from vibrations, and especially light, which is very detrimental to harmonious ageing.
Ideally, a cellar should also be cool (between 12 and 16°C) or, in any event, avoid abrupt changes in temperature. Thermal inertia is vital for storing wine. Although the temperature may vary, it should always do so gradually and rarely go under 10°C or over 18°C.
The degree of humidity is another important parameter. This should be high enough to keep the corks from drying out, which could harm the wine and cause evaporation. Humidity greater than 70% is advisable, although anything over 80% may damage the labels.
Wine Description
The Story
Whether by design or by pure chance, there are in the world exceptional places. Cheval Blanc is one of these. Combining a unique soil with a symbiotic mix of grape varieties, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, Cheval Blanc produces a wine, which has the rare quality of being good at any age. It is without doubt one of the most consistent wines in the world. Cheval Blanc's unique identity is due to its varied soils, early-ripening microclimate, the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the vineyard, and the close proximity of the finest wines of Pomerol.
Château Cheval Blanc has the rare ability to be good at whatever age. It is enjoyable young or as much as a century old in certain vintages. However, a great wine only reveals its full potential and all its subtle nuances after several years in bottle. It takes time to show its true colours and before reaching its peak. Every vintage of Cheval Blanc is made according to the traditional philosophy that great wine needs to age.
It should nevertheless be said that wines with ageing potential go through several periods, and that each one has its own type of attractiveness. This is all part of Château Cheval Blanc's fascinating complexity. Three different bottles of Cheval Blanc from the same vintage drunk at five, twenty, and forty years of age will each show a different facet of the same wine, variations on the same lovely theme. A bottle of fine wine meant to age is like a library of flavours that develop throughout its existence.
Wine is a "cultural" beverage that is very much alive and develops countless nuances over time. That is why this long waiting period needs to be respected. It is crucial to the wine's evolution, so that it can deliver its very best.
Wine Information
For many the 1964 vintage conjures up images of a truly unique year. It was that in Burgundy, but not Bordeaux, even though the French minister of agriculture declared it to be the vintage of the century in Bordeaux. He made his declaration before the autumn rains began to fall. The vintage was, at any rate, a very good one, quite reminiscent of the 1962, whose large crops produced excellent wines.
The mild, wet winter was followed by a warm spring. The ideal conditions enjoyed during the germination period stayed dry and hot throughout the summer. The grapes ripened beautifully all the way until 8 October, when three weeks of extremely heavy rains pushed into Bordeaux, causing the greatest damage in Médoc, primarily at Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Some of the region’s producers had managed to bring their entire harvests in before the rains. One of these fortunate ones was Château Latour. One of the less fortunate was Château Lynch-Bages, which finally brought its harvest in on 24 October. This vintage, however, favoured the right bank’s Merlot-driven wines, which ripened well before the rains. There are very few drinkable wines at this time. Once again, the Cheval Blanc and Pétrus rise above the other, also in price. An interesting development in 1964 was Mouiex’s acquisition of shares in Pétrus.
1964 IS A GREAT VINTAGE
FOR CHEVAL BLANC.
This is an atypical vintage for Bordeaux, an excellent one for Cheval Blanc.The vine grows slowly in the cold and rainy spring. Then the nice weather prevails and later the heat. 1964 will have a scorching summer. The grape picking takes place from September 22nd to October 9th in good weather.The yield is 37 ho/ha. It has 12° of alcohol.The malolactic fermentations are done entirely in the new wooden barrels.
The result is rich and stunning. The wine is perfectly distinguished and subtle. Superb.
Vintage 1964
For many the 1964 vintage conjures up images of a truly unique year. It was that in Burgundy, but not Bordeaux, even though the French minister of agriculture declared it to be the vintage of the century in Bordeaux. He made his declaration before the autumn rains began to fall. The vintage was, at any rate, a very good one, quite reminiscent of the 1962, whose large crops produced excellent wines.
The mild, wet winter was followed by a warm spring. The ideal conditions enjoyed during the germination period stayed dry and hot throughout the summer. The grapes ripened beautifully all the way until 8 October, when three weeks of extremely heavy rains pushed into Bordeaux, causing the greatest damage in Médoc, primarily at Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. Some of the region’s producers had managed to bring their entire harvests in before the rains. One of these fortunate ones was Château Latour. One of the less fortunate was Château Lynch-Bages, which finally brought its harvest in on 24 October. This vintage, however, favoured the right bank’s Merlot-driven wines, which ripened well before the rains. There are very few drinkable wines at this time. Once again, the Cheval Blanc and Pétrus rise above the other, also in price. An interesting development in 1964 was Mouiex’s acquisition of shares in Pétrus.
Recommended glass shape
Average Bottle Price
| 2017 | 2015 | 2013 | 2010 | 2005 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 755€ +4.7% | 721€ -7.8% | 782€ +21.6% | 643€ +7.5% | 598€ +82.3% | 328€ |
This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.
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