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Red
1996 Château Cheval Blanc
Red Bordeaux Blend
- France
- Bordeaux
- Libournais
- St. Émilion Grand Cru
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1995
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Label borrowed from 1997
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Label borrowed from 1997
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Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1998
Community Tasting Notes 102
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etyc Likes this wine:
March 1, 2024 - Popped, and sat/breathed in btl for ~3-hrs prior to serving (blind) in the last flight of the evening, alongside the '95 Lafite. The bouquet opened up nicely from the glass, with notes of smoke, tobacco, menthol & dust. There was still primary fruits (slightly darker spectrum) with a touch of secondary flavours seeping through. Texture was soft with great freshness/acidity. Would've preferred this even more with a tad more concentration/weight. Most had guessed this a left bank, drinking side-by-side the '95 Lafite (non-blinded). Personally, I thought the Lafite was an inch ahead...
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RayOB Likes this wine: 97 points
September 16, 2023 - Drank in London
wow, always amazing1 person found this helpful Comment -
luHar1423 Likes this wine: 96 points
July 29, 2023 - Yes, please - I want another sip.
What a big surprise this Cheval Blanc 1996 showed in our blind "Summer of 96 Tasting event". Unlike many critics, who suggest to "dump" this wine asap, I believe it is just entering its second life. It was fresh, full of tasty fruity primary notes, balanced tertiary and yummy secondary notes with tannins and acidity tip the scales in perfection. I am not a Cab Franc and thus, a right bank fan (with some exceptions though;-)) but this one is surely making it to my bucket list.
Continue to join and need to persuade my buddy to uncork his last White Horse 1996.1 person found this helpful Comment -
dream Likes this wine: 93 points
July 16, 2023 - Definitely a leaner vintage of Cheval but not without its merits. Fairly structured still with crisp acidity matched by silky dark fruits and delicious flavors of bitter chocolate, violets, leathers and smoked earth. Medium-bodied and very terroir-driven with a fine crunchy complexity on the finish. I loved it tonight with hanger steak and while it's reached peak, it should continue to age well if the fruit hangs in there as the structure softens.
1 person found this helpful Comment -
Rani Does not like this wine: 90 points
July 16, 2023 - Very ripe jammy nose. On the palate way too simple and lacking complexity. Disappointing.
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More notes
Pro Reviews 14
Add a Pro ReviewThe World of Fine Wine
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June 2008, Issue #20 (link)
(Chateau Cheval Blanc) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
June 2008 (link)(Chateau Cheval Blanc St Emilion) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Chris Kissack
June 2008 (link)(Château Cheval Blanc St Emilion Red) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
12/10/2007 (link)(Ch Cheval Blanc St-Émilion Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vintage Tastings
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By John Kapon
Bipin Cheval Weekend, 12/7/2007(Cheval Blanc) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
8/13/2007 (link)(Ch Cheval Blanc St-Émilion Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
April 2007 (link)(Chateau Cheval Blanc St Emilion) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
3/30/2006 (link)(Ch Cheval Blanc St-Émilion Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vintage Tastings
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By John Kapon
Dom Perignon, 12 Angry Men, Auction Lunch and a Holiday Party, 12/13/2004(Cheval Blanc) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 1999, IWC Issue #84 (link)(Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint Emilion) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 1998, IWC Issue #78 (link)(Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint Emilion) Subscribe to see review text.
Decanter
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By Ian D'Agata
(link)(Château Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
4/3/2010 (link) 94 points(Château Cheval Blanc) Very dark red violet color; tart black fruit, berry, charcoal nose; tasty, tight, deep, black fruit, charcoal palate; medium-plus finish (decanted for 1.5 hours; 66% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot)
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By Richard Jennings
2/21/2003 (link) 93 points(Château Cheval Blanc) Licorice, berry nose; rich, smooth, cherry, berry, red fruit palate; medium-plus finish (66% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot)
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1996
- Type Red
- Producer Château Cheval Blanc
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard n/a
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- SubRegion Libournais
- Appellation St. Émilion Grand Cru
- UPC Codes 071570019136, 081753800062
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 25 (1%)
- In Cellars 1,608 (66%)
- Consumed 817 (33%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Ixtara, PiaveWho Likes This Wine
97% Like It 30 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerChâteau Cheval Blanc
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- CountryFrance
- RegionBordeaux
- SubRegionLibournais
- AppellationSt. Émilion Grand Cru
Add Articles
- Wine1996 Château Cheval Blanc (add)
- FamilyChâteau Cheval Blanc (add)
- ProducerChâteau Cheval Blanc
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- CountryFrance
- RegionBordeaux
- SubRegionLibournais
- AppellationSt. Émilion Grand Cru