The 2022 Cheval Blanc is a Bordeaux blend that has garnered high praise and attention from wine critics, securing its place as one of the standout wines of the vintage. This red wine, produced in the renowned Saint Emilion region of Bordeaux, France, is composed of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc, and a touch of 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is bottled with a cork closure and has an alcohol content of 13.0%.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate heralds the wine as "one of the stars of the vintage," highlighting its "medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered" texture with "beautifully refined tannins" and a "long, saline, pungently perfumed finish" (William Kelley). James Suckling awarded it a perfect score, noting the wine's "brightness and weightlessness," describing it as "full-bodied yet tight and polished" with an "endless and poised" finish.
Jeb Dunnuck praises the wine's "deep, concentrated, structured" nature, appreciating its "beautiful cassis, violets, flowers, and chocolate-driven aromatics." The wine's "stacked mid-palate and a great finish" signal its potential for aging. Jane Anson also gave a perfect score, emphasizing the wine's "explosive nose" and "exuberance," calling it a "great wine from director Pierre Olivier Clouet and the team."
Vinous and Decanter both awarded the wine 100 points, with Vinous describing it as "deep, seamless and striking in its beauty" and Decanter noting its "elegance, purity and quiet confidence." The Wine Enthusiast echoed these sentiments with a near-perfect score, pointing out its "depth and concentration" and the "lovely line of succulent fruit and acidity."
Overall, the 2022 Cheval Blanc is celebrated for its complexity, balance, and potential for long-term aging, making it a remarkable achievement in the world of fine wine.