Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 11 days ago

with Brenda

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium Ruby color with aromas dark red fruits, black tea and ample floral spice, aged in 20% new French oak for 10 months. On the palate flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum with tobacco, cedar, black pepper, tea and vanilla spice. Soft fine tannins, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit, herb, spice and earthy wet stone character. Nice! — 6 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

Dark scarlet color with a deep center. Notes of black cherry, cola, roses, cassis, some spice and a little wood char. Amazing perfume in the nose. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Lots of drama with this one, and many agreed the 59 was better than the 45, the 61 and 82 Latours beside it. Bravo! — 2 years ago

Mike Evans

9.2

A good but not great LLC, classic black current and hints of leather and cedar, but a little rustic, though drinking it next to a lovely 1990 Troplong-Mondot didn’t do it any favors. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 3 months ago

Roman Ochocki

9.1

Very good. Lots of black fruit aromas (a plum, blackberry & black currant), an oak & a vanilla, so I”m a little disappointed. — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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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)
— a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Elegant Ruby color with red fruit aromas and gentle floral spice, aged for about 12 months in French oak, signature blend of grapes from Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton AVA's. On the palate flavors of cherry and black raspberry with notes of herb, licorice and wet stone notes. Soft dusty tannins on a long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy notes. Very Nice! Drinking well now! — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1/2hour decant(decent fine/cloudy sediment). A striking still dark ruby red color with some bricking. On the nose: dark fruit, campfire, leather, black olives, floral. Taste: smooth, elegant, lush mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark plum, dark chocolate, coffee, minerals, little tobacco, and a smokey graphite medium plus finish. YUM! In a nice place with a few more years to go. — 3 months ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds. — 6 months ago