Beschreibung:

Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1947
3 magnums per lot
THE FAMED 1947 CHEVAL BLANC IN MAGNUMS Cheval Blanc's plot of viniferous excellence lies just east of the historically significant town of Saint-Émilion. It has long been identified as a single plot of 91 acres (37 hectares) consisting of subsoils deep in gravel and traces of sand with clay. Average vine age is approximately 40 years, the oldest being 80 years old. This means that there are vines in production today that contributed to the 1947 harvest, alive and well. The 1947 vintage for Cheval Blanc is an often told story. The prevailing climate that year was a glorious stretch from Aprils bloom to the end of Octobers harvest. In summary, it was supremely hot and very dry, so much so that Bordeauxs municipality had to ration the usage of water a strategy often employed in modern-day Napa and the surrounding counties, rather than in the Aquitaine. The harvest began on September 15 and ended October 4. The health of the grapes was excellent, with the Merlot rivaling the Cabernet Franc for finesse. The sweetness of the resulting must meant that every vat would reach or exceed a 14 alcohol content. The translation of such a hot year into one of the most successful vintages ever at the estate is the hallmark of this bottling. It is a powerful wine in its richness, port-like even, but it is forever and always Bordeaux in signature and grace. Cheval Blanc in 1947 is one of the few estates not to experience problems during fermentation. After the war, many of Bordeauxs elite estates were still using pre-war wine making technology. At Cheval Blanc, the malolactic fermentation was without complications. In fact, it was perfect. From its very birth, Gaston Vaisseère, cellar master of the estate, claimed that the aromas were extraordinary. Adding to the history of this legendary wine is little known knowledge that the vintage was raised in five to ten year-old casks. Such was the state of post-war austerity that new barrels were extremely hard to acquire in France. The resulting wine has very much benefited from this treatment and accounts for the seemingly immortal nature of this vintage at Cheval Blanc. It is largely agreed among fine and rare connoisseurs that, at this age, magnums are the preferred format for such a grand and rare vintage. Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1947 Saint-Emilion, 1er grand cru classé (A) Levels: one into neck, one bottom neck, one very top-shoulder; original château embossed capsule cut to reveal château and vintage branded cork, one lightly corroded capsule, one nicked label edges, one torn label corners, one torn label, one lightly bin soiled label, one heavily bin soiled label, one heavily damp and bin soiled label, all with deep punts 3 magnums per lot