January 13, 2024 - A bit behind the legends of the vintage, more intensity and richness would seal the deal. That being said, this is still a fabulous experience. The nose with its truffles, smoke, mint, dried flowers, cherries, red plums, and spice is a treat. The medium-bodied palate is soft, silky, and finesse in style, with a nice sweetness and earthy quality to the fruits on the palate and in the finish. There is no reason to age this any longer as it is not going to get better from here. Drink from 2024-2030.
June 3, 2023 - Deep purple color. Floral, slightly lipstick. Clean, deep, minty.
December 22, 2022 - From a magnum I've cellared for 20+ years, the first impression was how incredibly youthful in appearance and bouquet this bottle was. The nose was redolent of currant, cedar, brown sugar, hoisin, soy. While the palate offered mature flavors of plum, red berries, beet, roasted meats, and currant. Upon encountering the wine, I'd never have guessed its age from the material and this bottle could certainly march for another decade or so without noticeable decline. Ninety or so minutes after opening, it started a subtle, slow fade. But what a lovely way to celebrate my wife's birth year with friends. Kudos to CB!
October 4, 2022 - Without question the finest red I’ve ever had. Complex, smooth beyond anything I’ve had before or since.
April 30, 2022 - Stunning after some time in the glass- liquid velvet!!!
April 4, 2022 - Ex-chateau release. Beautiful nose with damp earth, plum fruit, perfume, port wine and cigar leaves. Palate is not as fine as the nose with a slightly dry finish.
October 16, 2021 - Tony's 60th Birthday Celebration (Republique - Los Angeles CA): 1961 Bordeaux flight. Opened an hour before serving. Great color and fill. Cassis, currant and red cherry with sweet spice and roasted meat. Certainly very ripe, but so much background structure to keep this vibrant and powerful. More nuanced character kept slowly emerging, included sautéed porcini and black truffle, making this better and better with more air.
June 20, 2021 - Beautiful wine. Complex combination of red fruit, wet earth and spices. There may be a hint of black fruit but not much. I have had this wine 4 times in the last 3 years and it has been excellent each time.
May 5, 2020 - 2000 late release bottle. Still quite primary with the structure and wood notes at the fore for the first hour. Having not had good recent luck with bottles of this, was interesting to now taste a too young bottle. Soft tannins. 95+
June 1, 2019 - Cheval Blanc Vertical ‘Chez Elke’ (Hotel Hohenzollern, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler): Stunning chateau bottle in pristine condition, but it was just over the hill and oxidized. Bummer...