St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend

Intense plum with sour notes. Gorgeously glossy. Complex and delicious

Transparent and delicious. Raspberry, tangy plum, delicate floral notes. Delicious

Amazing consommé- like purity. Bright lifted cherry and a gorgeous suppleness. Stunning

Deep plummy fruit, some gnarly stuff. A hint of pepper and herbs. Good stuff

Band aid and clear fruit. Polished and pretty. Good

I never would have anticipated drinking my birth year of Cheval Blanc out of a Solo cup yet, here we are. The ‘81 is ruddy still; deep garnet color with some browning towards the rim and loads of sediment. The nose shows some of the telltale green-ness of vintage but everything has found harmony: the fruit has blossomed and structure has integrated. Dark fruited with tobacco, dried purple flowers, mushrooms, herbs and soft eastern spices. Charming! No particular rush to drink these but lovely now.

Way better from large format

Yeah!

The 2014 Cheval Blanc has an attractive nose with brambly red fruit, sous-bois, a pencil box and a touch of Xmas cake. It does not take too much aeration before it develops further aromas of black truffle and morels. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fleshy, ripe and tensile with red peppercorn hints toward the slightly granular finish. Very harmonious and persistent. It is outstanding in the context of the vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)

What a gorgeous nose. A lush mix of dark brooding fruit with tobacco, plum, dried herbs and a hint of herbs. A hint of band aid. Rounded and delicious. Sappy and intense. Long.