Ellen Clifford

9.3

I opened this on my birthday (it seemed apropos). Like its big brother (sister/horse-er?), it is a St-Émilion Grand Cru…and I tried the 2021, which, omg, I feel bad I have committed so much wine infanticide in my life…this is good now but shows SO much promise for age-ousity (new wine adjective, adverb?) Made of 60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Blackberries, tobacco, slight violet notes and toasty cedar on the nose initially, heavy twirling teases out hints of red plum. The palate starts earthy, broadening across the mid-palate to reveal juicy, juicy cassis (red and black) and a touch of dried vines that reads as enriching, not drying—inching further towards perfume on the finish. The tannins are the melt-in-your-mouth type—they make themselves known and then relax. I loved this wine. Give it air if you open it now, lots of air and twirl it like it’s the belle of the ball, but ideally, give it a little more time. I’m not sure when it will peak, but it should continue to evolve favorably over the years. — 2 months ago

John Willison

9.1

Very light cantelope color. Unripe cantelope, wild strawberry, herbal and minerality. Austere (in a good way), crisp, and clean. — 2 years ago

Eric

9.6

Cab Franc. One of the best white wines I’ve had in a very long time. — 3 years ago

Amy

9.0

drank the white- lovely drinkable non oak — 6 months ago

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9.5

The 2008 Cheval Blanc is one of the go-to wines of the vintage. Now at 15 years old, it has retained the energy and focus it displayed from the outset: black fruit, crushed stone, wilted violet petals and touches of forest floor cohere wonderfully in the glass. The Cabernet here is more expressive. The palate has a slight chewiness on the entry, but it "relaxes" in the glass. It shows off its delicate lattice of tannins and perhaps a bit more backbone than I have observed on previous bottles. It's very intense on the finish where, as before, the Cabernet Franc takes charge. Superb. Keep it another three to four years if you can. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 10 months ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Great QPR here. Bright and tangy! Tastes like 100% Sauvignon Blanc, but supposedly it’s 50% old vine Semillon! — 3 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Dark ruby hue. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice, and plum. Plus body, plus tannins, plus acid. While strong, balanced, and elegant, it opens up with a soft, round palate. Exemplary Napa red. 68 Cab Sauv, 28 Merlot, 2 Cab Franc, 2 Petit Verdot. — 9 months ago

David Valenti

9.0

Perfectly balanced. Love it. — 2 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. — 2 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

NV. Darn, this is an excellent Cremant. Hand harvested. Sorting of grapes. There are four varieties in this wine: Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Smell with sour apples, a yeast impression and minerals. Vibrant taste. Really very good. — 3 years ago