Community Tasting Note
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 95 points
May 27, 2023 - Wild and Crazy Memorial Weekend - Saturday (Chris' Castle aka Melissa's Manor): As if the tasting wasn't crazy enough, we had a 2019 Cheval Blanc and a 2010. For me, this pairing separated the boys from the men....the guys who prefer little girls to grown women! Of course, the 2010 was clearly the better wine, yet there were some in the group who are young and impetuous, and they were wooed by the 2019's sexy aroma...like falling for a siren's song, they were too enchanted to see the forest for the trees....admittedly, the 2019 had the sexier nose. However, it is like seeing a beautifully dressed woman, and being smitten by her clothes rather than by what is underneath! The 2010 was so much more expressive, still young enough to woo you, but old and mature enough to keep pleasing you throughout the night!
This was my first sign that some of us were still too susceptible to quick impressions, and unwavering once wooed! We will see that again with the SQN flight that happened later in the evening!
OK...you're here for Cheval Blanc, so back to the 2019...this wine deserves a 95 just for the nose! It is quite intoxicating and lures you in with gobs of cherry blossom and violets, coupled with baking spice and even some fruit cake and cocoa. However, the palate is gobs of red fruit, chocolate and violets. Tannins are smooth, acidity is hard to judge at this stage, but I am assuming it is sufficient to give this wine a long life. A solid wine for such a youthful Bordeaux, and will no doubt shine bright down the road, but for now, too primary to rate higher.Solid 95 with lots of upside.
Note to self....I am liking Cheval Blanc more and more each time I taste it! Wish I had more of them!2 people found this helpful 3,475 views
19 Comments
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Cristal2000 commented:
5/30/23, 8:27 PM - 2019 was better, just sayin'. :)
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MJP Hou TX commented:
5/31/23, 4:36 AM - I see there is one vote for 19 over 10. Do you think 19 passes 10 with the same amount of time in the bottle?
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
5/31/23, 6:45 AM - Different strokes for different folks! Not sure if the 19 will catch up to the 10...at least for my palate! For sure the 19 will get better, but IMO, so will the 2010! Don't get me wrong.....I liked the 19! Just thought it was way too young! Thought the 10 was. young too, but the palate, for me, was so much more expressive!
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Cristal2000 commented:
5/31/23, 9:08 AM - IRBDW loves 'em older MJP, so that probably fits your profile as well. The 10 was awesome, and in a great window. I was kidding a bit, although I do think 19 will be as good if not better at the same age. When you pop the cork on all these wines clearly just depends on what you like in wine, and for me the energy plays a significant role. The 19 is far too young (despite an off the chain nose), but I adore it even at this early and unresolved stage. One thing for sure is the 2010 was an amazing vintage and produced an amazing wine. We had other BDX wines from lesser vintages that didn't do as well. Just like in Napa, it's vintage to vintage.
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
5/31/23, 9:20 AM - Gawd, I am sitting here laughing my ass off! My wine friends here give me grief because I like younger wines more than they do (I repeatedly tell them I have never experienced a wine that was too big....is there really such a thing?), and now you guys are giving grief for liking older wines more than you do (I don't mind committing infanticide on someone else's dime, but when I buy wine, I like to drink it at peak, which for me is a nice balance between fruit and tertiary flavors)! Guess I can't win with anyone! But, I am okay with that!!!
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Cristal2000 commented:
5/31/23, 9:35 AM - Lol. The 2010 CB was definitely not too old. It was in a great spot. Now the 1983 Margaux on the other hand...
I would rather pull the cork too early than too late, but that is just me! I still enjoy the young things. :) -
LiteItOnFire commented:
5/31/23, 9:47 AM - You guys are so silly! I still remember that 2010 from the last BMF dinner we did when Chateau Angelus flew out to Phoenix. Great to hear the ‘19 didn’t disappoint as I have a bunch of 375s and 750s tucked away. That was the vintage I didn’t get to go to En Premeir and taste due to the shutdown in BDX.
I am super excited to try the 2009 for the dinner Cheval is flying in for. I have never had it, will be a fantastic contrast to the 2010 vintage and should be in an even better window.
Side note- love the group thinking you are drinking wines too young while the NorCal crew says you drink them too young. I like them young and old- wine too! -
I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
5/31/23, 9:56 AM - I strive for that magical moment when the world is in harmony...of course it is hard to pin down! Fortunately, many wines provide a forgiving window! The only issue I have with many older wines is that it seems bottle variation comes more into play! I understand your position, honest, I do! But drinking younger wines for me is like this is great! But seldom am I wow'ed by younger wines....it does happen, but it is much more rare for me than with wines that have some age and nuance. My problem is (if you want to call it a problem) that I seem to be unable to taste fruit where others seem to find it....cannot tell you how many events I have been to where some are gaga over a wine I think is dead. A perfect example would be the 1983 Margaux we tasted....I guarantee you I have friends that would swear that wine still has years of life ahead of it, where I thought at best it was on life support (and that was after initially thinking it was all the way dead). So like I said....different strokes! For me, I would rather chance on being wow'd by a wine....especially at the price points we are paying for wine....just seems to me you are paying a premium for age-ability of a wine, and if you are not going to take advantage of that, then buy something cheaper, IMO!
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
5/31/23, 9:58 AM - Hey Ryan....is the CB dinner set in stone? should I go online and book?
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LiteItOnFire commented:
5/31/23, 10:06 AM - Yes the Cheval dinner is set in stone. Both the President of Cheval and the head of the US have their flights booked and hotel reserved. We need to do a BMF wine night before or afterwards as always! So ping me offline before booking so we can Sync up.
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MJP Hou TX commented:
6/1/23, 2:49 PM - I might be in the camp of mature but I do like to sprinkle in some youth every now and then. I'd be over whelmed with the amount of wine you guys crushed. Any tips on how to keeping the palate fresh after tasting the younger wines?
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
6/1/23, 3:20 PM - Chris popped open Champagne, and that seemed to work pretty well....of course, when you're sloshed, everything *seems* to work well! Seriously, Champagne worked well....I was surprised, but will do this in the future!
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
6/1/23, 3:20 PM - Also small pours help!
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Cristal2000 commented:
6/1/23, 3:29 PM - Nothing like helping your palate with more wine/champ. Lol. Controlling intake and going oldest to youngest is the best thing I do. Small pours are always a must. Prison King out.
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I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
6/1/23, 3:38 PM - Oh....and drink lots of water!
*Shocked* I didn't realize they served alcohol in prison! I guess it's good to be king! -
MJP Hou TX commented:
6/2/23, 4:50 AM - Prison King! What's the back story on that?
Old to young. Water and white wine breaks between reds. Got it! -
I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:
6/2/23, 7:34 AM - You're on.....passing Mike the mike!
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Cristal2000 commented:
6/2/23, 8:02 AM - That is a story that can only be explained over a few hours with multiple bottles of wine. If you see Alex MacDonald, he may be able to provide the short version. Lol.
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MJP Hou TX commented:
6/3/23, 12:53 PM - I look forward to asking Alex next time I'm in the valley.