This has tension, fresh figs, white peach, liqourice root, mint leaf, lemon verbena, spiced white pear and citrus blossom. Less grip than in cooler vintages, as you would expect, but this has been well handled, with an attractive savoury edge, and a bitter fennel character that helps give focus and length. Harvest August 19, with 20 months ageing in large oak casks for the whites is the longest to date, 10% new oak, spread across a mix of 600l demi-muids for 20% of the volume and the rest in larger oak casks in a range of sizes. Estate director Pierre-Olivier Clouet.

The 2022 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) bristles with hints of pear, white flowers, mint, sage, dried herbs and tangerine oil. Light tropical overtones appear with air, adding lovely nuance. Today, I find the 2022 a bit tight. My impression is that this fruit may have been picked too early. There was probably not an attractive alternative. It will be interesting to see if this softens a bit with time in bottle.

The 2022 Le Petit Cheval Blanc has a little more Sémillon this vintage and aged in larger barrels ( demi-muids and Stockinger foudres ) for 20-22 months, longer than many other dry white Bordeaux wines. It has a fresh and quite understated bouquet with light apple blossom notes, fresh pear scents and hints of lanolin in the background. The palate is well balanced with a crisp, sapid entry and a taut line of acidity. The Sémillon shapes this white Saint-Émilion toward the finish with hints of green olive and stem ginger.