Château Cheval Blanc is located on the border between Pomerol and Saint Emilions in the Bordeaux region of France.

Cheval Blanc was one of only two properties deemed worthy of the highest Saint Emilion classification: Premier Grand Cru Category "A", alongside Château Ausone. In 1998 the Fourcaud-Laussacs family, who had owned the property since 1852, sold the château to Belgium businessman Albert Frère and Bernard Arnault, the wealthy owner of fashion-house LVMH.

The blend of the 1er Grand Cru Classe (A) is typically 50% cabernet franc and 50% merlot souced from vines with an average age of 33 years. Since the 1830s the vineyard has been relying on organic farming methods eschewing the use of commercial herbicides and relying on traditional techniques such as "hilling-up" and "ploughing-down" to manage the soil. Between 8,000 and 9,000 cases of Grand Vin and just over 3,000 cases of Second Wine entitled "Le Petit Cheval" are produced per annum.

"A pretty, attractive Cheval Blanc, the 1995 contains a higher percentage of Merlot in the final blend than usual (50% Merlot/50% Cabernet Franc). This wine has not developed as much fat or weight as its younger sibling, the 1996, but it appears to be an outstanding Cheval Blanc with an enthralling smoky, black currant, coffee, and exotic bouquet. Complex, rich, medium to full-bodied flavors are well-endowed and pure, with surprisingly firm tannin in the finish. Unlike the sweeter, riper 1996, the 1995 may be more structured and potentially longer-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020."

Robert Parker, Wine Avocate #115 February 1998

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