Chateau Cheval Blanc 2019

Château Cheval Blanc 2019 is a 750ml, 14.4% ABV Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A Bordeaux from one of the most celebrated vintages in recent memory. This release achieved a rare feat: four perfect 100-point scores from William Kelley at The Wine Advocate, Antonio Galloni at Vinous, James Suckling, and Jeb Dunnuck, alongside 98 points from Decanter.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.4%  |  Origin: Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Producer: Château Cheval Blanc

Production & Heritage

Château Cheval Blanc sits at the western edge of Saint-Émilion, where its vineyards share the same strip of blue clay that underlies neighboring Château Pétrus across the Pomerol border. The 2019 blend is composed of 58% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon — a relatively high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon for the estate. What truly distinguishes production here is a parcel-by-parcel micro-vinification approach: the fruit is fermented in 67 individual temperature-controlled cement vats across 14 different tank sizes, ensuring each plot is handled independently before the final assemblage. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation in tank and matures for approximately 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with an intensely aromatic wave of violets and raspberries before unfurling into deeper layers of lilac, pipe tobacco, and raw cocoa. Beneath those florals, subtle threads of crushed mint, burning embers, and graphite add complexity that evolves continuously in the glass.

Taste: The palate entry is full-bodied and enveloping, with bright red-toned fruit — wild berries, blood orange, and blackcurrants — meeting mid-palate notes of cinnamon, espresso, and dried herbs. The tannin structure is beautifully rich yet powdery, never aggressive, carrying tremendous layers with exceptional balance. The depth here is striking: each sip reveals a different dimension, from cassis and licorice to earth and dark plum.

Finish: The finish extends for well over a minute, textured and persistent, with lingering violets, graphite, and a fine espresso bitterness. It closes with a lift of blood orange and mineral freshness that invites the next sip long after the glass is set down.

How to Drink Cheval Blanc 2019

A wine of this caliber and structure demands to be served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at 16–18°C (61–64°F). Decanting for at least 90 minutes to two hours will allow the 2019's intense aromatics to fully open and its tannins to soften. While this vintage is already showing remarkable approachability, patience will be rewarded — the wine has the architecture to develop beautifully through at least 2045 and likely well beyond.

Best For

• Cellaring as a long-term investment-grade Bordeaux with proven critical acclaim
• Marking a milestone birth year, anniversary, or significant life event from 2019
• Gifting a serious Bordeaux collector a quadruple-100-point vintage
• Anchoring a comparative tasting of the 2019 Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cheval Blanc 2019 taste like? Cheval Blanc 2019 is full-bodied and intensely layered, dominated by wild berries, violets, blood orange, and espresso, supported by powdery tannins and a long graphite-laced finish. The interplay between bright red fruit and darker earthy, tobacco-driven notes gives it extraordinary complexity.

How does Cheval Blanc 2019 compare to Château Ausone 2019? Both hold Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A status and earned widespread critical acclaim in the 2019 vintage, but Ausone produces roughly 15,000 bottles annually compared to Cheval Blanc's approximately 100,000, making it significantly rarer. Cheval Blanc typically shows a more opulent, Merlot-driven profile with floral lift, while Ausone leans toward a more mineral and austere personality from its limestone plateau terroir.

Is Cheval Blanc 2019 good for cellaring? With four perfect 100-point scores and a tannic structure built for longevity, the 2019 is among the most cellar-worthy Cheval Blanc releases in decades. It should drink well from the late 2020s through at least 2045–2055.

Where is Cheval Blanc 2019 made? Château Cheval Blanc is located in the western part of Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux, France, near the border with Pomerol. Its vineyards sit on a distinctive terroir of gravel, sand, and clay — including a strip of blue clay shared with the neighboring Pétrus vineyard.

What foods pair well with Cheval Blanc 2019? Roasted rack of lamb with herbs complements the wine's earthy depth and powdery tannins. Braised short ribs mirror its full-bodied richness. Aged Comté or Gruyère echo the graphite and mineral notes. Duck breast with a cassis reduction bridges the wine's dark fruit core. Dark chocolate truffles resonate with the cocoa and espresso undercurrents on the finish.

What sizes does Cheval Blanc 2019 come in? Château Cheval Blanc 2019 is available in a standard 750ml bottle, as well as large-format options including magnums (1.5L), double magnums (3L), imperials (6L), and half-bottles (375ml), depending on market allocation.

Is Cheval Blanc 2019 worth the price? Cheval Blanc 2019 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Bordeaux and global fine wine. Four perfect 100-point scores from the world's most influential critics place it among the most decorated releases in the estate's modern history, which supports its valuation relative to other First Growth–equivalent wines from this vintage.

Why Cheval Blanc 2019?

Earning four perfect 100-point scores from independent critics is exceedingly rare for any wine, and the 2019 vintage stands as one of the most universally lauded Cheval Blanc releases ever produced. The estate's micro-vinification across 67 individually sized cement vats — a level of parcel-specific precision few properties in Bordeaux can match — allowed the winemaking team to capture the exceptional quality of the 2019 growing season with surgical accuracy. The resulting blend of 58% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a wine that is both immediately captivating and built to evolve for decades. For collectors and connoisseurs of Bordeaux, the 2019 Cheval Blanc represents a benchmark expression from a benchmark estate in what may prove to be one of the defining vintages of the 21st century.