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Château Cheval Blanc vertical tasting dinner #1

Vienna Cafe & Wine Bar

Tasted February 19, 2016 by DrinkBordeaux with 429 views

Introduction

A fantastic night of tasting Cheval Blanc with an outstanding pairing menu.

Flight 1 (5 notes)

Red
1970 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
92 points
Light ruby. Fantastic nose, much better than the last bottle. Not as rustic and the old library book smell was lacking with this bottle. Light in weight but has a graceful mouthfeel. Red fruits, Brett, menthol, mushroom, and roses. The Brett was fairly strong, but something I tend to like when it has a sweetness to it, as with this wine. A finish that tails off. Lost steam after a couple of hours, so this is a wine to be consumed now.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
1981 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
89 points
started out with a very off-putting nose; almost seemed to have some volatile acidity going on. This definitely improved after a couple of hours of air. Black currant, juniper berries, fresh herbs, musk, and Indian spices dominated the nose. It certainly had the most unique nose of the night. Stronger on the palate, with good depth. Velvety tannins that are nicely integrated. Fell short on the finish. Not a showstopper by any means, but a good showing considering the vintage. Would drink this relatively soon.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1989 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
92 points
Moved in and out all night. When it was on, it was really on. Red fruits, some damp earth, cedar, herbs, and espresso. Moderate tannins. Some spiciness noted on the finish. Didn't put on much weight throughout the night. One of the most enchanting noses of the night. Still has some years left in the tank, but the inconsistency throughout the night leads me to wonder how long.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1995 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
93 points
Dark ruby color. Needed over 3 hours of air to open up, but seemed to come in and out. Blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, spice, and tobacco. Really nice concentration. Just seems like it's holding back. You have to look really hard to see its potential, because this is still shy overall. Tannins are in good balance right now. Good acidity as well. No concerns about the fruit outlasting the tannins. Save this baby for at least 5 more years; the structure is solid.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1999 Château Cheval Blanc France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
94 points
On opening, this seemed a little over-worked, but this was not the case as it mellowed. Really dense and layered. Menthol, cassis, Indian spices, black cherry, espresso, and cigar. The most full-bodied of the night, but the balance was still in check. Tannins are round but still in the foreground. With time, this could turn into an excellent wine. Hold this for a few years.
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