February 21, 2024 - 54% Merlot, 46% Cab Franc. More Cab Franc in the nose. A mix of red and black fruit flavors, fine tannins, minerals, and then graphite coming in on the back of the palate.
Not a very good vintage in general for red Bordeaux wines. Cool & wet early w/ dry, hot August. Short harvest window from Oct rains, leaving some grapes with a bit more rustic tannins.
December 7, 2023 - A private Cheval Blanc tasting (Bolomey Wine Imports, Amsterdam, NL): Not decanted. Clearly recognisable terroir expression, the fruit development is less perfect than in the 2016, but it is straight and has good tension, fresh, well-judged tannins almost match the lighter weight, starting to show some evolution, no lack of weight on the palate, very good length. Charming in a direct way, do not keep too long.
August 10, 2023 - Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
On the nose blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, eucalyptus, peppercorn, bell pepper, green beans, earth, tobacco leaf and herbs.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with currants, black cherries, plums, earth, oak, spices, licorice, coffee, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, light river rocks and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 11 year old red Bordeaux is starting to drink nicely now, but oh so young.
Not fully balanced yet, and needs 10 years to come to its own. Will continue to age nicely in the next 30 years.
Showing great complexity already, with lots of earth notes. Spicy and entertaining.
Very yummy, and good by itself or with food. A gorgeous wine.
A blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. Aged in all new French oak barrels.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$550.
June 24, 2023 - Cheval Blanc & Yquem dinner @ Anhelo Restaurant (with Pierre Lurton) (Phoenix, AZ): Without question the best 2012 Bordeaux I’ve had to date, this bottling of Cheval Blanc is a smooth operator through and through. With an elegance (not fragility) that interlaces the core red cherry, fresh red and black raspberry, pink roses, and wet stone flavors within an encasement of perfectly defined acidity, the 2012 is all class. It displays as incredibly resolved, which is a testament to its smartly executed balance. Finishes with a gently flowing cassis note that firms up ever so slightly in the back end. It’s as if the 2012 is the Yin to the 2009’s Yang.
Compared to a 2012 Lafleur I had recently, the 2012 Cheval shows certain similarities - namely a red fruited contour that shapes the medium-bodied profile into an affable and appealing specimen, but the Cheval adds some next-next level classicism, complexity, and purity that are seemingly unmatched. The 2012 will continue to evolve gracefully for decades, but in many respects, there’s little need to delay gratification here. 11 years in from vintage and it’s already a winner ready and willing to show off its goods.
June 22, 2023 - Dinner with Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem President Pierre Lurton (Anhelo Restaurant Phoenix, Arizona): Create story
June 22, 2023 - Cheval Blanc and Yquem Tasting Dinner (Anhelo (Phoenix)): PnP - A very nice wine in a somewhat spotty vintage. Not too complex, but very enjoyable! Nose is perfumed, as always! Plenty of red and dark fruit, some anise, violets and some cocoa and spice on the palate, with notes of sweet tobacco. Not the best Cheval Blanc, but still a very good Cheval Blanc! Solid 95 points for my palate!
Note: Paired quite well with a strawberry, lavender duck!
April 26, 2023 - En Primeur campaign for the 2022 vintage Day Five (Bordeaux): Slightly jubey, leather, fresh plums, sweet spice, a little cedar, dense, broad plenty of palate weight, talc textured tannins, dark hued fruits with red berry a noticeable partner. Slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on finish but rather nice today.
January 13, 2023 - 2012 Cheval Blanc. Pop n pour and paired with lamb dinner. Classic CB redcurrant and bramble fruit with a chocolate finish, if on the lighter side. Smooth, velvet tannins with a finish of pipe tobacco and green pepper. This had a lovely smooth roundness to it, but I wish the concentration was a bit higher. Solid 94-95 (and for 2012 Bordeaux, I have yet to find anything that beats Lafleur in this slightly off vintage).
November 17, 2022 - Quaffable.
July 9, 2022 - A reserved vintage for Cheval Blanc, the wine pops with flowers, cigar wrapper, mint leaf, spice, cedar, and just a hint of truffle. Bright, fresh, juicy, crisp red cherries and plums are also front and center of this medium-bodied, elegant, classic version of Cheval Blanc. Drink from 2022-2045.