Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This far too young but when I have a chance to look in on Cheval Blanc I do.

Nose shows; ripe blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets.

The palate shows some nice evolution but still too young to drink. Ripe and slightly candied; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, raspberries & plum. Moist clays, coffee, moist herbs, roasted chestnuts, espresso, mid berry cola, caramel, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, crazy, round, bold spice, moist tobacco, used leather, graphite, dark, rich earth, dry stone, limestone, soft oak powder notes, amazing florals that are red flowers, red roses, lilacs & violets, round, rainfall acidity, balance, mid structure/tension, grand length and a two-minute long polished finish.

94-97 — 12 hours ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Smooth, silky, hint of grapefruit and lemon, but not in a bitter way, lovely finish. — 5 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2019 vintage. From the owners of the excellent Moncets and Chambrun estates in Lalande-de-Pomerol. Just one hectare of 100% Merlot in the Montagne Saint-emilion appellation ( at 750 meters from Cheval Blanc as they state on the website). Don't expect Cheval Blanc quality though, but it's also 50 times less expensive. Anyway, this is a great value. Attractive nose with cherries and violets. Medium-bodied, well balanced, with ripe cherry fruit, spices, and more than decent length. Hard to believe how cheap this is. Contrary to common belief, Bordeaux features some of the best values in the world. Abv. 13,5%. — 10 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See several previous notes. My last of these Cuvées from Kangaroo Island South Australia and owned by the French Lurton family of Cheval Blanc fame. Savoury plum with earthy overtones. With air the aromas were almost intoxicating. Quite bold and full bodied on the palate - oak has integrated. Rich and spicy yet cleansing and moreish. Touch of camphor finishing with fine sandy tannins. — 4 years ago

Marcio Morelli

9.7

13,5% - Bebido ao lado de um Cheval Blanc 89
Avalanche de frutas vermelhas, intenso mas extremamente elegante. Textura incrível com boa acidez e excepcional persistência. — 5 years ago

with Otavio and Evandro

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. No way one would situate this in the humble Bordeaux appellation in a blind tasting, but that shouldn't come as a surprise, since this estate is owned by Pierre Lurton (who also manages Cheval Blanc and Yquem). A blend of 80% Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Give it some time to open up or decant, as this is structured to age. Interestingly it tastes like a compromise between right and left bank. The fruit is more black than red, the wine has a serious tannin structure, balanced by good acidity and serious length. Another Bordeaux boxing above its weight. Highly recommended. Abv. 14,5 %. — 6 years ago

Pietro Amirkhanian

9.4

Still got it — 7 years ago

Tom Garland

9.8

Vins d'Exception Dinner (LVMH winery portfolio) at the French Laundry:
-----‐----------------------------------------------------
Chateau Cheval Blanc with Pierre Clouet
Colgin Cellars with Ann Colgin
Domaine des Lambrays - Jacques Decauges
Chateau d'Yquem with Lorenzo Pasquini
8 course tasting menu from chef Thomas Keller.

WINES:
2021 Le Pitit Cheval Blanc semillon
2006 Chateau Cheval Blanc
2015 Chateau Cheval Blanc
2020 Domaine Des Lambrays puligny montrachet
1999 Domaine Des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays
2020 Domaine Des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays
2005 Colgin Estate cab
2016 Colgin Estate cab
2010 Colgin Estate syrah
2021 Colgin Estate syrah
2013 Chateau D'Yquem
1946 Chateau D'Yquem

FOOD
Japnese hamachi sashimi and cavier
Grilled Scottish Langoustine
Herb roasted Poulard with wild morels
Australian black winter truffle agnolotti
Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope
Snake River Farm beef and Mt Shasta porcini
Gruyere cheese tartlette
California stone fruit medley

At The French Laundry. Napa — a month ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, oak, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, eucalyptus, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, oak, licorice, light cola, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Malbec based blend from the house of Cheval Blanc is starting to drink very nicely now. Feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Soft, smooth and elegant. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Needed 90 minutes in the decanter to open up properly, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Wine Advocate 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — 6 months ago

Edgar Martin

9.3

Nose dominated by pencil lead note and dark berries. Great energy on the palate and length — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See previous notes. My last bottle - purchased at the winery on Kangaroo Island. 100% Cabernet Franc. Herbs , Tea leaves, Charcoal, Black, fruits, a touch of caramel oak. Quite a full bodied opulent wine showing those black fruits. A product of the warm 2008 vintage in South Australia. A classy wine balancing the ripe fruit with the right amount of oak treatment. Very polished as you would expect from a $150 wine. Shows Jaques Lurton’s (Cheval Blanc) experience with the Cabernet Franc grape. — 4 years ago

Eric Vishria

9.4

Side by side with the 00 Cheval Blanc. Showed really well! Took 1.5 hrs in decanter/glass to really show its stripes. — 5 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

2018 vintage. Good example of oaked Sauv Blanc blend (even says "elevé en fûts de chêne" on the label). 70-20-10 SB, Sémillon, Muscadelle. Lemon meringue, dill, a little coconut, banana peel, sunflower seed, dandelion. Oak is definitely overt, but well-integrated. — 6 years ago

Chris Gillespie

9.1

This sauv Blanc blend is out of sight esp for the price — 7 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

Tasted this wine a few times and it is certainly getting better. This might the the best vintage yet. At Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion. — 3 months ago

Shay A

9.5

My contributions for a fun right bank Bordeaux dinner. This ended up being a standout amongst the group but others included ‘95 Cheval Blanc, ‘05 L’Evangile and ‘89 Figeac (the starter whites may have stole the show…mag of ‘10 Chave Hermitage Blanc, ‘08 Dom, ‘21 Magi’s CdP Blanc…this ‘04 ZH I brought was an excellent bridge to dessert…good r/s but not cloying; incredible vineyard).

I’ve only had TR once before but it was infanticide many years ago. At roughly 20yrs, I was excited to catch this on what I expected to be near peak. Very tight upon opening but after 45mins in the bottle, this really strut its stuff. Red and purple floral aromatics, bay leaf, and leather. Beautifully elegant on the palate but everything is in its place…supremely balanced. Clean (no brett), multi-layered fruit spectrum (red, purple, blackberries), sweet tobacco, espresso, little cassis. No roasted or over ripe profile, and also not a lean/green machine. Balance balance balance. Lovely. Wish I had another. — 4 months ago

Will Stanley

9.7

The oldest wine that I’ve ever tasted, this 73 year-old La Tour du Pin Figeac from 1950, only the third vintage of this wine since Antoine Moueix purchased the estate from the Corbieres family in 1947. The property would later be sold to Cheval Blanc in 2008, with more than a hectare of the vineyards added to Cheval Blanc and the rest used to produce what is now La Tour du Pin. It’s possible, then, that vineyards used to make Cheval Blanc today were used in 1950 for La Tour du Pin Figeac…I digress. But this was an outstanding, emotional wine, almost impossible to believe that a half bottle of venerable Bordeaux could possess such lively and youthful character - I would have guessed a more recent, powerful vintage such as 1982 or ‘89. It’s clear that it has been stored impeccably. The nose is effusive, dark and brooding with balsamic character, dried red and black fruits, bitter chocolate and espresso, while the palate has great structure and harmony, carrying the fruit through to a long, almost austere finish. Yes, I believe this wine will continue to age well. Absolutely phenomenal stuff. — 2 years ago

Ron Milton

10

Unbelievable perfect 57%Cab Franc- 43% Merlot blend from Russell Bevan. A fruit forward version if a Cheval Blanc from St.Emilion! Full bodied rich stewed black and blue fruits with hints of mint and herbs, lavender and fully textured with a 1-minute long intense finish. Can’t imagine a better red wine. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2015 vintage. Co-owned by Hubert de Boüard (Angélus) and Dominique Hebrard (ex-Cheval Blanc). 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Attractive nose with truffle, red fruit and spices. Fresh and elegant, with perfectly integrated oak, a nice ripe tannic bite and good walnutty length. Terrific value at 12 euros. "Les Cerisiers" is a 5 hectares parcel that produces finer wines than the regular bottling. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Lemon in colour. Another stunningly good Semillon and non Hunter Valley @Ceccherini Cristiano from Kangaroo Island of all places which was recently badly damaged by bushfires. The Islander is owned by Jacques Lurton and family of Cheval Blanc, other right bank wineries and wineries around the world. This wine was more Bordeaux Blanc than Hunter Valley in style with perfectly judged oak giving the wine a rich texture and excellent mouthfeel. Peachy ripe fruit which is unusual for a Semillon. A stunner. — 6 years ago