Château Cheval Blanc

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé)

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

2000

Vintage

Varietal

Bordeaux Blend

ABV

Peak 2005-2035

Where it is, June 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2005-2035).

In 2026 the 2000 Cheval Blanc sits squarely at mid-peak, fully mature and drinking beautifully. The window opened around 2003, and the wine entered its broad peak in 2005 that runs through 2035, so a quarter-century of prime drinking is still on the table. Hard decline does not arrive until roughly 2047, which means there is no urgency here. Bottles pour with resolved structure, perfumed lift and a long, refined finish, yet the frame holds enough grip and tension to reward patient cellaring for many more years before any fade sets in.

Related vintages

The ‘00 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé).

The 2000 Cheval Blanc is one of the decade's great bottles: a perfumed, silky Saint-Emilion now drinking beautifully in mid-peak with decades still ahead.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

One of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade, the 2000 opens with a complex bouquet of fragrant earth, exotic spice, raspberry preserves, cherry cola, dried mulberries and violets, with hints of licorice, iron ore and cedar. The 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc blend is gracefully styled and medium to full in body (7/10), its layers of fruit, earth and perfumed spice framed by silky, well-resolved tannins that read as a firm 7 yet feel polished rather than gripping. Acidity sits at a balanced 5, giving freshness and beautiful tension without sharpness. The Cabernet Franc lends the elegant, perfumed character Cheval Blanc is known for, and the finish is long, minerally and endlessly refined.

The 2000 vintage

The 2000 is the celebrated millennium vintage, a benchmark year for Bordeaux. On the right bank, proper ripening brought delightful freshness, gentle tannins and impressive harmony, with much of the Merlot harvested ultra-ripe from around 21 September. Wine Spectator rated right-bank reds 93 and called them rich, powerful and structured, yet harmonious. Saint-Emilion ranked with the great years, and the wines combine generous fruit with the kind of balance that carries them across decades of cellaring.

About Château Cheval Blanc

Château Cheval Blanc is a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A on a singular terroir of gravel over clay, deep gravel and sand over clay at the appellation's western edge, running toward Pomerol. Its hallmark is an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc planted alongside Merlot, which lends the wine its perfume, freshness and aromatic complexity rather than sheer weight.

From the cellar: pair with

Roasted squab with mushroom jus

The silky tannins at 7 meet the bird's richness without overwhelming it, while the earthy mushroom jus echoes the wine's forest-floor and iron-ore notes and the medium-full body at 7 carries the dish.

Veal tenderloin with a morel cream sauce

Tender veal flatters the polished 7-level tannins, the cream sauce mirrors the body at 7, and the wine's moderate acidity at 5 cuts the richness just enough to keep each bite fresh and balanced.

Aged Comté and Gruyère with walnut bread

Nutty hard cheeses lock onto the wine's cedar and spice, the acidity at 5 keeps the pairing lively against the fat, and the firm yet refined tannins at 7 frame the body at 7 for a savory close.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 60-64F (16-18C)
Decanting: Decant 45 to 60 minutes before serving. At 26 years old this mature wine has resolved its hardest edges, so a moderate decant lifts the perfumed bouquet and softens the silky 7-level tannins without blowing off the delicate violet and spice aromatics. Stand the bottle upright for a day first, then pour gently off any sediment.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

When should I drink the 2000 Cheval Blanc?

Now is an excellent time. In 2026 it is mid-peak and fully mature, with its peak window running from 2005 to 2035 and hard decline not arriving until around 2047. You can enjoy it tonight or hold bottles confidently for another decade or more.

Should I decant this wine?

Yes, give it 45 to 60 minutes in a decanter. The wine is mature, so a moderate decant lifts the perfumed bouquet and eases the silky tannins. Stand the bottle upright for a day beforehand and pour gently to leave any sediment behind in the bottle.

What food pairs best with the 2000 Cheval Blanc?

Reach for elegant, savory dishes: roasted squab with mushroom jus, veal tenderloin in morel cream, or aged Comté with walnut bread. The medium-full body and silky tannins want refined proteins and earthy, umami flavors rather than heavy char or spice.

Can I keep cellaring it, or is it past its prime?

It is firmly in its prime, not past it. With a peak that extends to 2035 and decline only near 2047, this wine has a long runway. Store it at 55F with 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side, and it will hold and evolve gracefully for many more years.

What should I open next in a similar style?

Explore more from the same house and region. Start with the [Bordeaux cellar guide](/wines/region/bordeaux), browse other [Bordeaux Blend wines](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend), or try the [2005 Château Cheval Blanc Saint-Émilion Grand Cru](/wines/chateau-cheval-blanc/saint-emilion-grand-cru-premier-grand-cru-classe/2005) for a younger expression of the same perfumed, Cabernet Franc-led elegance.