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Appellation: Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé A
This was a benchmark year for Cheval Blanc when the new barrel cellar was inaugurated. 1975 Cheval Blanc was a fine vintage with low yields. The wine’s austerity in its youth gave way to a dense, high-quality tannic texture that continues to provide a great deal of pleasure.
Ratings:
The first nose presents aromas of black fruits and more particularly
notes of blackberry. A floral and minty freshness appears.
After aeration, the aromas focus on tobacco, truffle and spices,
while still retaining fruit (prune stone, plum, strawberry), as well
as a freshness characterized by citrus aromas. The notes of cigar and
orange marmalade become more present as it aerates. On the palate,
the wine is smooth with a significant sweetness. The aromatic return
is particularly focused on fruits. The fat and broad palate is of a
very good length and the tannic structure, still quite present,
continues at length towards a very elegant finish.
Growing season
- Ripening took place at an average date. Many of the Merlot grapes had been affected by coulure, which accounts for the low yields. 1975 came after a series of difficult vintages, including the heavy rains during the 1974 harvest. Having been put off by these challenges, many estates picked too early in 1975, which led to austere wines that did not develop well in bottle. However, Cheval Blanc’s early-maturing microclimate, and the decision to wait for the Cabernet Franc grapes to ripen fully, resulted one of the most beautiful wines produced in Bordeaux that year.
- Harvest: from 28 September to 8 October
- Yield: 21,5 hl/ha
- Alcohol content: 13°
Weather conditions
- Temperatures were close to usual, except July and August, which were rather hot. May, June, July, and August were dry months, whereas September was fairly wet.
- In order to grow well, the vine needs for water stress to set in slowly so the grapes to ripen well and become concentrated. The water balance shows that water stress was fairly important this year.