Cheval Blanc

Tasting Notes:
The complex, explosively fragrant 1999 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc. It is already showing well, which is a good sign for a wine that traditionally is reserved early in life, but puts on weight and richness in the bottle. Stylistically, this wine is probably cut from the same mold as vintages such as 1985, 1966, and 1962. The color is a dense ruby with purple nuances. Once past the blockbuster bouquet of menthol, leather, black fruits, licorice, and mocha, the wine reveals medium body, extraordinary elegance, purity, and sweet, harmonious flavors with no hard edges. This is a seamless beauty of finesse, charm, and concentration. The 1999 is an exciting Cheval Blanc to drink relatively young. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate #140
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2006-2022

Tasting Notes:
Dark ruby/purple-colored, with a complex, spicy, tobacco, vanilla, blackcurrant, mineral, and floral-scented nose, the 1994 is a bigger, more structured wine than the 1993, its older sibling, but is it better? The wine finishes with mouthsearing tannin, which detracts from the otherwise impressive aromatics and sweet, medium-bodied, lush attack. As I have written many times in the past, Cheval Blanc has a tendency to fatten up, put on weight, and expand both aromatically and texturally with age, so perhaps this wine will move in that direction. If it does, my rating will appear unduly conservative. But if the tannin continues to taste astringent and the fruit begins to fade, then I will have overrated the 1994. Robert Parker- WIne Advocate
Parker Points: 88
Drinking Period: 2002-2017

Tasting Notes:
Dark ruby/purple-colored, with a complex, spicy, tobacco, vanilla, blackcurrant, mineral, and floral-scented nose, the 1994 is a bigger, more structured wine than the 1993, its older sibling, but is it better? The wine finishes with mouthsearing tannin, which detracts from the otherwise impressive aromatics and sweet, medium-bodied, lush attack. As I have written many times in the past, Cheval Blanc has a tendency to fatten up, put on weight, and expand both aromatically and texturally with age, so perhaps this wine will move in that direction. If it does, my rating will appear unduly conservative. But if the tannin continues to taste astringent and the fruit begins to fade, then I will have overrated the 1994. Robert Parker- WIne Advocate
Parker Points: 88
Drinking Period: 2002-2017

Tasting Notes:
In contrast to the 1989, the 1990 is increasingly sumptuous with each additional tasting. The wine possesses all the hallmarks of a hot, ripe year - low acidity, super-ripe, nearly over-ripe fruit, an opulent, oily texture, great sweetness of fruit, and a long, voluptuously-textured finish. In the most recent tasting, I almost mistook it for Le Pin given its showboat-like nose of coconut, toasty new oak, and gobs of smoky, blackcurranty, and cherry fruit. The wine is full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with layers of extract, and well-concealed tannin. I am increasingly convinced that this is the most profound Cheval Blanc since the legendary 1982. Because of its fleshy, low-acid character, the wine can be drunk, but it is still youthful, with a deeper purple color than the more mature-looking 1989. It should offer exotic opulence for at least another 15-20 years. A compelling Cheval Blanc!Wine Advocate # 109 Feb 1997
Parker Points: 98
Drinking Period: 1997 - 2017

Tasting Notes:
Since its bottling, the 1989 has frequently been disappointing. In this tasting, it showed better than it has over the last several years. The 1989 is not a great effort for this chateau. The color is already revealing an amber edge, and the lead pencil, cedar, spicy, black fruit, and vanillin-scented nose is more reminiscent of a young Lafite, than the exotic style associated with Cheval Blanc in a hot, dry, ripe year. This medium weight, lightly tannic wine is very approachable. I have rated the 1989 Cheval Blanc consistently between 87 and 89, which is indicative of an excellent wine, but given the vintage terroir, this is not one of the star's of the 1989 vintage. It should continue to drink well for 10-15+ years, as there is moderate tannin in the wine's elegant framework, but readers should not expect any miracles. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period: 1997-2012

Tasting Notes:
Since its bottling, the 1989 has frequently been disappointing. In this tasting, it showed better than it has over the last several years. The 1989 is not a great effort for this chateau. The color is already revealing an amber edge, and the lead pencil, cedar, spicy, black fruit, and vanillin-scented nose is more reminiscent of a young Lafite, than the exotic style associated with Cheval Blanc in a hot, dry, ripe year. This medium weight, lightly tannic wine is very approachable. I have rated the 1989 Cheval Blanc consistently between 87 and 89, which is indicative of an excellent wine, but given the vintage terroir, this is not one of the star's of the 1989 vintage. It should continue to drink well for 10-15+ years, as there is moderate tannin in the wine's elegant framework, but readers should not expect any miracles. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period: 1997-2012

Tasting Notes:
The 1988 is more structured, less alcoholic and less intense than the 1989. It exhibits fine ripeness, and a cool, almost menthol, plummy bouquet intertwined with aromas of smoke and new oak. In the mouth, there are some aggressive tannins, but it does not possess the sheer drama of the 1989. It is a very good Cheval Blanc, but having tasted it numerous times in cask and bottle, I had expected it to be more impressive than it appears to be. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 1994-2005

Tasting Notes:
The 1988 is more structured, less alcoholic and less intense than the 1989. It exhibits fine ripeness, and a cool, almost menthol, plummy bouquet intertwined with aromas of smoke and new oak. In the mouth, there are some aggressive tannins, but it does not possess the sheer drama of the 1989. It is a very good Cheval Blanc, but having tasted it numerous times in cask and bottle, I had expected it to be more impressive than it appears to be. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 1994-2005

Tasting Notes:
Fully mature, but capable of lasting another 10-15 years, this flamboyantly scented wine (jammy black fruits, licorice, Asian spices, herbs, grilled meats) is a lusciously rich, opulent, medium to full-bodied, fat and juicy style of Cheval Blanc that seems to get better and better every time I taste it. Like so many Cheval Blancs, it has the uncanny ability to put on weight in the bottle. Last tasted 1/98 Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition # B1 Jan 1998
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 1998-2005

Tasting Notes:
Revealing considerable amber in its dark plum/garnet color, this intensely fragrant 1982 is somewhat of a paradox in that the front end suggests full maturity, but the mid-palate, finish, and overall texture denote a closed wine. A gorgeously sweet entry displays flavors of caramel, roasted coffee, jammy red and black fruits, coconut, and smoke. It is fat and full-bodied, with considerable tannin, structure, and muscle in the finish. Flamboyantly rich and precocious early in life, it is going through an awkward stage where the tannin is present, but it is also sexy, juicy, and formidably-structured. When the 1982 Cheval Blanc's component parts become totally in sync, it will be capable of meriting a three-digit rating. Wine Advocate # 129 Jun 2000
Parker Points: 99
Drinking Period: 2000-2015