Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Aciditymedium
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2020: best 2025 to 2035.
vintage5 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Wine Advocate reviewed 2023202092/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninMedium acidityDryMedium-Length, Supple And Polished finish

Aroma: red cherry, plum, cedar, violet, fresh herbs

Palate: black cherry, cassis, tobacco, soft spice

The second wine of Cheval Blanc: same terroir and typicity as the grand vin but in a more accessible, forward style. Charming black-fruit and cedar profile, silky tannins, and an earlier drinking window.

What it pairs with

  • Roast chicken with jus
    Medium-weight cherry fruit complements mild poultry without overwhelming it.
  • Veal chop with mushroom cream
    Earthy mushroom and soft veal echo the wine's cedar and herb register.
  • Duck confit
    Rich duck fat integrates beautifully with the wine's soft tannin and plum fruit.

How to serve Le Petit Cheval

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Roast chicken with jus, Veal chop with mushroom cream, Duck confit. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Le Petit Cheval was created in 1988 as the second wine of Chateau Cheval Blanc, drawing on the same gravel-and-clay terroir as the grand vin. Typically sourced from younger vines and lighter-extraction parcels, it offers the estate's signature Cabernet Franc elegance at a more accessible entry point. Not produced in selected vintages where all production merges into the grand vin.

  1. 1988: First vintage of Le Petit Cheval produced
  2. 2015: No second wine produced; full crop elevated to grand vin

Facts

Producer
Chateau Cheval Blanc · visiting guide
Grapes
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Classification
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Oak
18 months in 50% new French oak barrels
ABV
13.5%
Production
48,000 bottles
Price
EUR 90-140 at retail
Drinking window
5-15 from vintage
First vintage
1988

Frequently asked about Le Petit Cheval

What does Le Petit Cheval taste like?

On the nose, red cherry, plum, cedar, violet, fresh herbs. On the palate, black cherry, cassis, tobacco, soft spice. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, medium acidity with a medium-length, supple and polished finish. The second wine of Cheval Blanc: same terroir and typicity as the grand vin but in a more accessible, forward style. Charming black-fruit and cedar profile, silky tannins, and an earlier drinking window.

When should I drink Le Petit Cheval?

Drink 5-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Le Petit Cheval?

Roast chicken with jus is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Veal chop with mushroom cream and Duck confit. Medium-weight cherry fruit complements mild poultry without overwhelming it.

What grapes are in Le Petit Cheval?

The blend is Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec. The wine is classified as Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

Tags

cabernet franc cabernet sauvignon dry malbec medium acid medium body medium tannin medium term merlot mood easygoing mood elegant occasion dinner party occasion weeknight old world pairs with mushroom pairs with pork pairs with poultry price fine still red

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