2005 Le Petit Cheval, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has really turned out much better than I thought when tasted blind. The nose is very closed, black earthy fruits with a touch of liquorices. Muffled. Good structure, a little Cabernet Franc in here? Nice cedar quality, fine tannins, focused and masculine towards the blackberry finish. Good length. Good breeding and purity. Drink 2010-2020. Tasted January 2009.

Cheval Blanc’s second wine, the 2005 Le Petit Cheval, possesses some of the character of its bigger sibling. Revealing a slight green streak among the cranberry and black cherry fruit along with medium body and a soft, plush texture, it is ideal for drinking over the next decade.

Tasted single blind at Southwold. Again, this is showing a lot of extraction and unresolved new oak on the nose with cassis, blackcurrant, liquorice and a touch of fig. Very ripe supple black fruits, lush and generous, exotic almost with a lithe, toasty finish. Very seductive, but they a wall of tannins hits the back palate, then honeyed tones lingering on the aftertaste. Magnificent – I would love to contrast this against the 2003. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted January 2009.

Tasted blind. Blackish ruby. Quite a bit of interest on the nose already. Then a bit spindly with a lack of real fruity core on the mid palate. Some sourness. Could be enjoyed already but there are lots of tannins underneath. (JR)