Felt it was a great example of st emillion with earth and what seems like hay notes on the nose and a savory palate. Next to some pomerols it was my favorite but the fruit in the pinerola were more popular with my guests (decanted 90 minutes prior)
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Just a light bricking at the edge with a ruby core. This wine smells fantastic. Red and blue fruit, damp soil, and a touch of ground espresso. It’s pure and focused. The fruit profile is reflected on the palate. Medium body with fully integrated tannin and medium acidity. The finish is long. There is some brightness to this wine and the fruit is hanging on well. I can’t see this getting much better, but it’s got a long life ahead. Drink now and over the next 10+ years.
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Cheval Blanc is my favorite domaine, but this was not my favorite bottle. It lacked the bite/spice that I am used to from CB. Maybe just a bad bottle or not the best vintage.
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On the nose, dried roses, floral, dried fruits, black cherries, iron, dirt. Getting fairly thin now, limited fruit left, more leather and earth. Beautifully made to hold up so well.
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Wow, can you say wowza? The cork was gone, the corkscrew came right out, prong couldn’t even begin to turn, so used the old wine filter. Decanted, and just got better until the last glass which was amazing. The zing from the cab franc and the richness from the merlot, and the toast from the barrel. Had with slow cooked duck legs and flageolets. At it’s peak?
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Amazing, intoxicating nose. Such an expressive and complex bouquet. Deep dried fruits with supple tannins. Soft mouth feel, smooth finish. I think this one has peaked, but still an ethereal experience.
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Going to give this one 93 based on the nose alone, which is fantastic. Leaps out of the glass. You can spend so long smelling it that you forget to drink it, thinking you must surely have already taken a sip when you put your glass down.
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Rusty red, medium plus body Plums, roses, peonies, perfumed nose Super elegant wine, soft, leathery notes. Longish finish. Light fruit. This is what a well constructed wine made for aging should taste. I love this wine. It's in its drinking window now and has some years left.
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30 Vintages of Cheval Blanc: All tasted blind. 1982 to 2015 (with 1949 in the mix). The wines are fragrant, perfumed, seductive and always soft and without weight. Best performing vintages: the rather hot/ripe vintages 2015, 2009 and 1982 (all complex, seductive, complete and with elevated concentration). Next best: the promising and pure 2010, the still sexy 1990 and the immortal 1949. Notable outperformer: 2011 with many other good off-vintages. Notable underperformer: 2005, 2000, 1998 which all showed rather muted and not yet ready.
TN: Denser and a bit darker, more concentrated than the 86/87. Round and seductive dark red fruits, coffee, tobacco, old leather, forest floor. Overall not as well delineated and not as complex as in the best year but drinking pleasantly with a soft structure with melted tannins and a good acidity.
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Chateau Cheval Blanc - 30 year vertical (1949-2015) tasted blind: Very meaty and smoky nose with forest floor. Savory on the palate, almost light bodied. Decent but not great. The 86/87/88 trio was really modest compared to the strong 82/85/90 showing on the next flight.
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There is nothing better than someone serving you a wine blind. I'm fairly confident if I would have seen the label here I would be reeling out the usual statements on how this is green, and hard, and tannic, without fruit. But blind... And wow... What a wine. Classic bordeaux. Still a dark purple/Ruby. Slightly lighter than an 88 Montrose served alongside. Really nicely balanced and great harmony. Served by ST at Cilantro.
Drinking perfectly well now, but should keep another 15-20 years at least.
Medium bodied, fresh, earthy, floral wine, with a steak of herbs, and leafy notes. There is softness to the tannins, but there is a leafy, green, discernable note in the otherwise, red plum finish. There is no reason for further aging here.
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Gorgeous nose: lilac, sandalwood, and garrigue evolving to cedar and black fruits. Tight for 30 minutes then gets silky and classic, although it’s surprisingly short and a little mid palate thin. A 95 for the nose, a 90 in the mouth, not unusual for many ‘88s. which may still need a few years.
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Leiden at restaurant Vermeer Amsterdam: This wine appears still young in the nose, some very fresh dark fruit. Taste very pure dark fruit, at first a bit tight, integrated tannins. This 30-year old wine directly started with a very good impression, but it really grew on me during the evening when I revisited the glass regularly, during which it transformed in a truly great wine. The nose developed rose petals, the wine became silky. This is wow Bordeaux!
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Always a treat to have a Cheval, and this one didn't disappoint. Superb aromatics, with a core of fresh red and dark berried fruit framed by layers of tobacco, green herbs, earth, and more exotic floral/sandalwood-like notes emerging with air. It's still showing some tannin, but feels incredibly polished and graceful and this is a wonderful wine to sit down and follow over a couple of hours. Thanks Andy.
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Indianapolis IV; 3/9/2018-3/11/2018 (Indianapolis, IN): A brilliant Cheval Blanc with its intense cabernet franc aromatics. Slightly herbaceous, but with silky black fruit on the nose as well. It's definitely not the most generous and giving bottle of Cheval Blanc; this is a fairly aristocratic bottle with dark fruit and a really big structural component. Truth be told, this seems a little young and not yet fully resolved. But it's incredibly delicious nonetheless.
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Pre-Labor Day Cabernet Dinner (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Rich and powerful start-to-finish with very good weight and depth. Green pepper added a great dimension and complexity here. My 3rd favorite of the flight, but #1-3 were all so close, and the group's #3 as well.
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This wine was bought in the early 90s at a two for one sale for $50 a bottle. I first opened this wine six years ago. It wqs good but lacking in flavor intensity. The wine 6 years later was a different wine. Still bright and medium in color intensity but the complexity and flavor interest exploded in the intervening years. The bouquet was lead pencil, tobacco and with a little dust. The fruit is no longer that of fresh fruit but the fruit of evolved vinosity. It stayed bright the entire evening. I bought only two bottles probably in the early 1990s and I have no more. I love this wine now. The impeccable balance is one of the characteristics. Great wine from the Right Bank but at this time, the wine could have fooled me as one of Cabernet from the Left Bank. Just beautiful and Sri firm after nearly 28 years. It is at its youthful peak.
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CB dinner. Some secondary development, cedar and leather aromas. Someone generous would call it classically proportioned, but no one will mistake this for a great Cheval. From Jero.
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from double magnum this is was like the 67 on steroids. the fruit was there, the tannins were resolved, it was well balanced, a great CB from an off year and is ready to drink
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very dark red, showing very little age. Nose has pencil lead, leather and blackberries. Well balanced and vigourous - black fuit and fine balance. Good concentration. a lovely bottle.
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Good briary dark cherry notes and good underlying sweetness with a long spiced finish. Just a touch rustic with a cigar box notes. Mature, but drinking well.
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No formal TN, but remember that it had a bit if CF funk, it was really multilayered and its class was evident. It was quite dense and restrained and had an excellent mouthfeel.
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Château Cheval Blanc vertical tasting dinner #2 (Vienna Cafe & Wine Bar): The most reserved of the bunch. Red fruits, juniper, caramel, brown spices, and tobacco. Never really came alive. My sense is that this will lie dormant for awhile. Lacks some life on the palate. A medium length finish
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Medium bodied, with a definite herbal streak in the middle of its cherry core, the wine has softness to the texture, and it allows its floral nature to barely poke through, but the herbal character is in the fore front.
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Occasional dinner group; TOP Bordeaux 1988: Mature bouquet with cassis, beautiful oak and some pleasant barnyard flavors. On the palate a slightly sweet start with chocolate and earthy flavors, good acidity, some ok bell pepper, a bit rustic, and tannin with still enough bite for some future. Not extremely refined, but mature and ready now, although I wonder if it might improve a bit with some more ageing…. could well be…. Anyway 92 for tonight.
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Off vintage for Cheval Blanc but nevertheless a very nice mature right bank wine. Drinking next to the Petrus 88, this wine got more kick and depth, more alive, very lovely to drink now.
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Structured and fairly unforgiving. Not much charm but I can taste the vineyard with notes of violets and green tobacco. One of the weaker vintages of Cheval that I've tasted.
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Intense ruby hue. Very young nose with ripe fruit and the impression of bitter tannins seeming to jump out of the glass. Thin on the palate with weak reddish fruit and some herbal notes. 1.5 hour decant.
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Drank a half bottle purchased from Zachey's on release (half bottle madness) and perfectly stored. First of 6 bottles as in need of cataloging my cellar ( any volunteers?). Awesome and what one would hope for but more often be disappointed with first Growth Bordeaux ( and anything else Parker rated at 27 years old). It is still lively and fresh and not at all oxidized and plummy ( lack of negatives seems a bit crazy for such an expensive, pedigreed wine). Rather, it has (had) complex roasted flavors of plum/currant/earth and still dense but giving. There is no reason to age longer and buy more if you have the funds and want to drink a great wine now. delicious!!
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From the eucalyptus nose to the long thin legs this french girl was no tease. When I saw the age, must admit, I was expectation over the hill but wanting respect. Not at all, from the inviting nose you take a sip, the pure flavors lick your palate and tease you with expectation. Not a slut in a tight mini, just a pure walk by, notes of earthly tones and distant meats leave you happy to sip and pour some more.
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Went back and forth on whether this was slightly corked, but ultimately felt it was ok. Dark fruit, herbs, tobacco. Earth. Full, youthful round. Superb balance and wonderful texture. Perfect spot to drink right now
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Bordeaux 1988 Horizontal Tasting: Tasted blind: Deep ruby in color. Nose shows eucalyptus, coffee, tobacco, leather and hints of Coke. Very elegant and nicely integrated acidity. Smooth, sweet...one feels in Bordeaux heaven. Great wine to drink over the next 10 years or so.
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Cheval Blanc tasting (30 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2014: rubin red color; cherry, coffee and truffles; medium/full body; well-integrated tannins; long finish.
Great wine. Consider the 1988 as best wine of the 1st flight!
Vintages 1st flight: 1985-1986-1988-1989-1990
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Another great bottle from the same case. Nose was right out of the gate. I am going to wait a few years to try the next one. I am impressed but how youthful and pungent this wine is.
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PnP'd at cellar temp, consumed over a few hours. I didn't keep notes, but was amazed at how the wine kept changing as the time went on. Amazingly youthful for a 25-year-old wine. Wonderful texture to the tannins. Overall a wonderful and delicious wine. Poured side-by-side with a 1991 Latour, everyone at the table agreed this was the better of the two wines that night.
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Bordal chez Criduc (Bordeaux '88) (Geneva): Couleur grenat foncé. Nez d'écurie, de serpillière, pas net. Bouche pas agréable non plus, ne s'améliorant pas à l'aération. La bouteille était sans doute fatiguée, le bouchon étant semble-t-il très imbibé.
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Consistent notes with the bottle from Dec 2012. Left it out overnight and while it did not fall apart nothing magical happened. A good Cheval...nothing spectacular.
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Decanted and drank over 3 hours. This bottle was in perfect condition. Pristine label, fill well into the neck and a perfect cork. Took about 30min to open up, but once it did the nose reveal dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, mint, earth, spice and old wood. The palate matched initially was a bit sour, but with time this developed into wonderfully sweet dark fruit and became brighter with time. Nice and full in the mouth and a long finish and nice grip. Better than I remember the last bottle being.
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La Commanderie de Bordeaux: 1988 Horizontal (Boneta Restaurant - Vancouver, BC): Quite subdued on the nose with really not much showing, but there is some rich dark dried fruits, black pepper, vitamin, and sweet dates aromas evident. Tons of black plum on the palate, along with rich dark dried fruits, black pepper, and floral white flowers. High acidity, with a medium length finish ending on a note of black plums. This was different...astringent, fruit stripped, candied and rich dried fruits almost resembling a CDP. There was surely something off with this bottle, not corked, but seems like it's seen some heat somewhere during its life. It wouldn't be fair to rate this. NR
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French barnyard-y nose. Masculine nose. However, in the mouth it is very soft & elegant. Did not decant for fear it might not hold together and I think that was a wise decision. A very good bottle of wine!
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From a bottle with a perfect cork and fill. Opened and poured over the course of 2 hours. Still a vibrant ruby color with little to no bricking. At first very muted on both the nose and palate. After 30 minutes became more expressive with scents of blueberries and a subtle hint of chocolate. On the palate well balanced with no soft spots. After about 2 hours it did show a slightly black fruit finish. In sum, a very good wine, but a bit subdued. Perhaps give the next bottle a couple hours to develop.
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Alvin’s 60th Birthday Dinner (Le Gavroche): Medium red with some bricking at the rim. This polarized the table as some felt this was corked and others felt it was just extremely musty. I flip flopped right until my final sniff and sip and still was partially undecided, but if I was forced to pick, I’d say it was slightly corked with a lot of mustiness underneath. Either way, the wine was drinkable. Musty nose with notes of bell pepper/stems, cedar and blackcurrants. In the mouth it was soft and fairly light in weight with excellent acidity with hints of spice and sweet fruit on the finish. Tannins are mainly resolved and what’s left are very fine. Compared to the ’95, this was more mature, more delicate and more cab franc’ish. Having said all that, I don’t think this was a representative bottle and therefore judgment is reserved.
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Took a while to open, but then an austere, leafy nose. Improved a lot over two hours, but not a great Cheval. Well behind Pichon Lalande or Lynch Bages.
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Red, blue and elegant but with an underlying power. There is also some plum and coconut. I had this blind and gave my vote on a Cheval Blanc but I thought it was a bit younger. A class act I think.
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The years have been kind to this wine as it has developed well. With its lush, plum, coconut, truffle and cherry perfume, medium body and slight hint of rusticity to the tannins, this nice example of a classic Cheval Blanc is drinking great today.
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With Paul and Buckles. Opened with a lot of green notes, maybe stemmy. But over the evening this just kept changing and became more elegant and refined, though a hint of green, good green, was always there. Red fruit and pencil, this was an outstanding bottle of wine. From a mag.
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Drunk from a magnum. Opens with notes of tree bark, green olives, and green pepercorns. But with time and air, the wine comes together and displays and seamless balance of spicy cassis, minerals, and wet soil. Complex, rich, and regal. More cerebral than sensual but clearly an exceptional wine.
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NYE at Pierces... decanted and let sit for over an hour prior to drinking.. very tasty. Nose came alive after decanting and sitting. Not a blockbuster per se but very refined and sexy
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First Growths (slightly disappointing) and an amazing Port (John V.'s): The outlier in the crowd and as so often happens, it was the groups WOTN. Pretty ruby color. The nose is dusty with cherries and cassis. Slight mocha notes. On the palate, this has cassis and is slightly acidic. With air it rounds out a bit showing also some cherries and a hint of menthol. Slightly tannic.
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Mature Bordeaux tasting (Le Papilion): Dark red color with an orange hue. Concentrated and powerful nose with notes of blackcurrant, bush, wet forest ground and mushrooms. On the palate it is juicy and fresh with refined, pure blackcurrant, before picking up dried flowers, earth and undergrowth on the midpalate and finally some marzipan and prunes on the long finish. Very complex and refined, with fresh acidity that balances it perfectly. It remains delicate, youthful and delicious.
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Clearly not dead. In fact, for the first several hours it was as closed as a bank on Sunday. Orange at the rim, but modestly so. 6-7 hours later the wine began to open up, and though it was definitely great, I'd wait another 5 years if I could do it again.
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Decanted for two hours. Drank over another two. Was still opening up at the end. Became more balanced and full during the end of the time. Incredible richness and elegance.
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Medium till dak red, brownish rim, bright Beautiful nose, dark fruit, soft and fine fragrance Mature and powerful, long finish, tight, not very subtle and round
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Incredible nose of menthol, eucalyptus and tobacco. On the palate a bit of a disappointement, lacking of fruit. Maybe the wine is going to "sleep" or is it maybe over...
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If you own this wine, drink it now. Wine is definately past its prime, and although I enjoyed it, overall it was muted and did not reveal the flavors and nuiances I anticipated/
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Light bodied, elegant and agile, lots of graphite, some blackcurrant. In itself, a very pleasant claret, but neither complex nor concentrated and lacking the wow factor that one expects from a Cheval Blanc.
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NobleRottersSydney - First Growth Night (Guillaume at Bennelong): Dropping back a vintage, the 1988 is more obviously aged; the faintly exotic-spiced nose here only slightly compromised by a metallic note. It’s still seems promising, though. On the palate, it’s similar in profile to its younger [1989] sibling, except all the structural elements seem wound back a notch, with the result that it begins to look a bit thin. Drying tannins are the final remnant on the palate; drink up now is what this wine tells us. Consumed with the first course of the meal both wines lifted considerably, as you’d expect with top claret, so it’s not too much of a trial…
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Shade lighter than Figeac but colour out to rim; restrained nose, fragrant touch of iron filings; flattering, easy going charm, smooth. extÕd finish. 16>
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Bright disc with medium red robe and red/orange rim. After decanting and aerating for 45 minutes, the wine shows intense mint, cherry, coffee, cola and a hint of cedar. The tannins are ample but supple, with a medium-bodied palate which shows similar flavors as the nose. The finish is very long and smooth. May improve further, but is so pleasant now that it is certainly not a crime to drink up!
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2/29/2024 - VoteferPedro wrote:
Felt it was a great example of st emillion with earth and what seems like hay notes on the nose and a savory palate. Next to some pomerols it was my favorite but the fruit in the pinerola were more popular with my guests
(decanted 90 minutes prior)
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1/27/2024 - LW31 Likes this wine:
Agree with others... gorgeous nose and the palate doesn't have the follow through or depth of best vintages. Still awfully pretty to drink now-ish.
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10/31/2021 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Just a light bricking at the edge with a ruby core.
This wine smells fantastic. Red and blue fruit, damp soil, and a touch of ground espresso. It’s pure and focused.
The fruit profile is reflected on the palate. Medium body with fully integrated tannin and medium acidity. The finish is long.
There is some brightness to this wine and the fruit is hanging on well. I can’t see this getting much better, but it’s got a long life ahead. Drink now and over the next 10+ years.
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8/25/2021 - apg23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cheval Blanc is my favorite domaine, but this was not my favorite bottle. It lacked the bite/spice that I am used to from CB. Maybe just a bad bottle or not the best vintage.
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12/25/2020 - ChristyLeighNY wrote:
On the nose, dried roses, floral, dried fruits, black cherries, iron, dirt. Getting fairly thin now, limited fruit left, more leather and earth. Beautifully made to hold up so well.
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4/25/2020 - JonasH65 wrote:
Near it’s end, weak but magnificent taste of cow shit, autumn leaves, vinbär, raspberry.
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3/22/2020 - Brain Capers Likes this wine:
Wow, can you say wowza? The cork was gone, the corkscrew came right out, prong couldn’t even begin to turn, so used the old wine filter. Decanted, and just got better until the last glass which was amazing. The zing from the cab franc and the richness from the merlot, and the toast from the barrel. Had with slow cooked duck legs and flageolets. At it’s peak?
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3/7/2020 - shifter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing, intoxicating nose. Such an expressive and complex bouquet. Deep dried fruits with supple tannins. Soft mouth feel, smooth finish. I think this one has peaked, but still an ethereal experience.
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2/25/2020 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
Going to give this one 93 based on the nose alone, which is fantastic. Leaps out of the glass. You can spend so long smelling it that you forget to drink it, thinking you must surely have already taken a sip when you put your glass down.
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2/21/2020 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
l'il Rob visiting....
Rusty red, medium plus body
Plums, roses, peonies, perfumed nose
Super elegant wine, soft, leathery notes. Longish finish. Light fruit. This is what a well constructed wine made for aging should taste. I love this wine. It's in its drinking window now and has some years left.
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12/16/2019 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
30 Vintages of Cheval Blanc: All tasted blind. 1982 to 2015 (with 1949 in the mix). The wines are fragrant, perfumed, seductive and always soft and without weight. Best performing vintages: the rather hot/ripe vintages 2015, 2009 and 1982 (all complex, seductive, complete and with elevated concentration). Next best: the promising and pure 2010, the still sexy 1990 and the immortal 1949. Notable outperformer: 2011 with many other good off-vintages. Notable underperformer: 2005, 2000, 1998 which all showed rather muted and not yet ready.
TN: Denser and a bit darker, more concentrated than the 86/87. Round and seductive dark red fruits, coffee, tobacco, old leather, forest floor. Overall not as well delineated and not as complex as in the best year but drinking pleasantly with a soft structure with melted tannins and a good acidity.
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11/29/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Chateau Cheval Blanc - 30 year vertical (1949-2015) tasted blind: Very meaty and smoky nose with forest floor. Savory on the palate, almost light bodied. Decent but not great. The 86/87/88 trio was really modest compared to the strong 82/85/90 showing on the next flight.
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8/11/2019 - _water.into.wine_ wrote: 95 Points
There is nothing better than someone serving you a wine blind. I'm fairly confident if I would have seen the label here I would be reeling out the usual statements on how this is green, and hard, and tannic, without fruit. But blind... And wow... What a wine. Classic bordeaux. Still a dark purple/Ruby. Slightly lighter than an 88 Montrose served alongside. Really nicely balanced and great harmony. Served by ST at Cilantro.
Drinking perfectly well now, but should keep another 15-20 years at least.
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2/3/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied, fresh, earthy, floral wine, with a steak of herbs, and leafy notes. There is softness to the tannins, but there is a leafy, green, discernable note in the otherwise, red plum finish. There is no reason for further aging here.
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11/16/2018 - Lype Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fragrant as a Margaux although a Saint-Emilion. A very good wine.
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9/2/2018 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous nose: lilac, sandalwood, and garrigue evolving to cedar and black fruits. Tight for 30 minutes then gets silky and classic, although it’s surprisingly short and a little mid palate thin. A 95 for the nose, a 90 in the mouth, not unusual for many ‘88s. which may still need a few years.
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6/12/2018 - Burgaddict wrote:
Leiden at restaurant Vermeer Amsterdam: This wine appears still young in the nose, some very fresh dark fruit. Taste very pure dark fruit, at first a bit tight, integrated tannins. This 30-year old wine directly started with a very good impression, but it really grew on me during the evening when I revisited the glass regularly, during which it transformed in a truly great wine. The nose developed rose petals, the wine became silky. This is wow Bordeaux!
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3/10/2018 - salil wrote: 95 Points
Always a treat to have a Cheval, and this one didn't disappoint. Superb aromatics, with a core of fresh red and dark berried fruit framed by layers of tobacco, green herbs, earth, and more exotic floral/sandalwood-like notes emerging with air. It's still showing some tannin, but feels incredibly polished and graceful and this is a wonderful wine to sit down and follow over a couple of hours. Thanks Andy.
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3/10/2018 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Indianapolis IV; 3/9/2018-3/11/2018 (Indianapolis, IN): A brilliant Cheval Blanc with its intense cabernet franc aromatics. Slightly herbaceous, but with silky black fruit on the nose as well. It's definitely not the most generous and giving bottle of Cheval Blanc; this is a fairly aristocratic bottle with dark fruit and a really big structural component. Truth be told, this seems a little young and not yet fully resolved. But it's incredibly delicious nonetheless.
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9/29/2017 - Burgundy63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very special for a Bordeaux
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9/3/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Pre-Labor Day Cabernet Dinner (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Rich and powerful start-to-finish with very good weight and depth. Green pepper added a great dimension and complexity here. My 3rd favorite of the flight, but #1-3 were all so close, and the group's #3 as well.
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8/5/2017 - Wineteacher Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine was bought in the early 90s at a two for one sale for $50 a bottle. I first opened this wine six years ago. It wqs good but lacking in flavor intensity. The wine 6 years later was a different wine. Still bright and medium in color intensity but the complexity and flavor interest exploded in the intervening years. The bouquet was lead pencil, tobacco and with a little dust. The fruit is no longer that of fresh fruit but the fruit of evolved vinosity. It stayed bright the entire evening. I bought only two bottles probably in the early 1990s and I have no more. I love this wine now. The impeccable balance is one of the characteristics. Great wine from the Right Bank but at this time, the wine could have fooled me as one of Cabernet from the Left Bank. Just beautiful and Sri firm after nearly 28 years. It is at its youthful peak.
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6/10/2017 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
CB dinner. Some secondary development, cedar and leather aromas. Someone generous would call it classically proportioned, but no one will mistake this for a great Cheval. From Jero.
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3/13/2017 - ricknat1 wrote: 93 Points
from double magnum this is was like the 67 on steroids. the fruit was there, the tannins were resolved, it was well balanced, a great CB from an off year and is ready to drink
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11/3/2016 - SimonG wrote: flawed
St Emillion First Growths (Chez Bruce, London): Corked.
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7/3/2016 - KVM wrote:
very dark red, showing very little age. Nose has pencil lead, leather and blackberries. Well balanced and vigourous - black fuit and fine balance. Good concentration. a lovely bottle.
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4/13/2016 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good briary dark cherry notes and good underlying sweetness with a long spiced finish. Just a touch rustic with a cigar box notes. Mature, but drinking well.
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3/4/2016 - AV2012 wrote: 93 Points
No formal TN, but remember that it had a bit if CF funk, it was really multilayered and its class was evident. It was quite dense and restrained and had an excellent mouthfeel.
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2/26/2016 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 90 Points
Château Cheval Blanc vertical tasting dinner #2 (Vienna Cafe & Wine Bar): The most reserved of the bunch. Red fruits, juniper, caramel, brown spices, and tobacco. Never really came alive. My sense is that this will lie dormant for awhile. Lacks some life on the palate. A medium length finish
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12/15/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, with a definite herbal streak in the middle of its cherry core, the wine has softness to the texture, and it allows its floral nature to barely poke through, but the herbal character is in the fore front.
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10/27/2015 - steinersing wrote: 92 Points
from Jero - showing well and is quite open and pleasant. No superstar but attractive.
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10/23/2015 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Occasional dinner group; TOP Bordeaux 1988: Mature bouquet with cassis, beautiful oak and some pleasant barnyard flavors. On the palate a slightly sweet start with chocolate and earthy flavors, good acidity, some ok bell pepper, a bit rustic, and tannin with still enough bite for some future. Not extremely refined, but mature and ready now, although I wonder if it might improve a bit with some more ageing…. could well be…. Anyway 92 for tonight.
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10/19/2015 - Pacalet Likes this wine: 92 Points
Off vintage for Cheval Blanc but nevertheless a very nice mature right bank wine. Drinking next to the Petrus 88, this wine got more kick and depth, more alive, very lovely to drink now.
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10/17/2015 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Ficofi from 4.5L. Nice bouquet.
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10/11/2015 - dream wrote: 87 Points
Structured and fairly unforgiving. Not much charm but I can taste the vineyard with notes of violets and green tobacco. One of the weaker vintages of Cheval that I've tasted.
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10/8/2015 - tinybubbles wrote: 89 Points
Intense ruby hue. Very young nose with ripe fruit and the impression of bitter tannins seeming to jump out of the glass. Thin on the palate with weak reddish fruit and some herbal notes. 1.5 hour decant.
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9/6/2015 - kennyvino wrote: 95 Points
Drank a half bottle purchased from Zachey's on release (half bottle madness) and perfectly stored. First of 6 bottles as in need of cataloging my cellar ( any volunteers?).
Awesome and what one would hope for but more often be disappointed with first Growth Bordeaux ( and anything else Parker rated at 27 years old). It is still lively and fresh and not at all oxidized and plummy ( lack of negatives seems a bit crazy for such an expensive, pedigreed wine). Rather, it has (had) complex roasted flavors of plum/currant/earth and still dense but giving. There is no reason to age longer and buy more if you have the funds and want to drink a great wine now. delicious!!
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7/12/2015 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
From the eucalyptus nose to the long thin legs this french girl was no tease. When I saw the age, must admit, I was expectation over the hill but wanting respect. Not at all, from the inviting nose you take a sip, the pure flavors lick your palate and tease you with expectation.
Not a slut in a tight mini, just a pure walk by, notes of earthly tones and distant meats leave you happy to sip and pour some more.
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1/29/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Went back and forth on whether this was slightly corked, but ultimately felt it was ok. Dark fruit, herbs, tobacco. Earth. Full, youthful round. Superb balance and wonderful texture. Perfect spot to drink right now
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6/7/2014 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bordeaux 1988 Horizontal Tasting: Tasted blind: Deep ruby in color. Nose shows eucalyptus, coffee, tobacco, leather and hints of Coke. Very elegant and nicely integrated acidity. Smooth, sweet...one feels in Bordeaux heaven. Great wine to drink over the next 10 years or so.
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3/8/2014 - Fatty Cat wrote: 96 Points
Cheval Blanc tasting (30 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2014: rubin red color; cherry, coffee and truffles; medium/full body; well-integrated tannins; long finish.
Great wine. Consider the 1988 as best wine of the 1st flight!
Vintages 1st flight: 1985-1986-1988-1989-1990
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11/28/2013 - redders Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brittannia Group (Hix Mayfair): Ripe rich mineral slaty but great balance ripe long and firm. Terrific length . v fine
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11/16/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle from the same case. Nose was right out of the gate. I am going to wait a few years to try the next one. I am impressed but how youthful and pungent this wine is.
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11/7/2013 - gripNsip Likes this wine:
PnP'd at cellar temp, consumed over a few hours. I didn't keep notes, but was amazed at how the wine kept changing as the time went on. Amazingly youthful for a 25-year-old wine. Wonderful texture to the tannins. Overall a wonderful and delicious wine. Poured side-by-side with a 1991 Latour, everyone at the table agreed this was the better of the two wines that night.
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8/22/2013 - Ericsson wrote:
Bordal chez Criduc (Bordeaux '88) (Geneva): Couleur grenat foncé. Nez d'écurie, de serpillière, pas net. Bouche pas agréable non plus, ne s'améliorant pas à l'aération. La bouteille était sans doute fatiguée, le bouchon étant semble-t-il très imbibé.
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5/11/2013 - mbwineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent notes with the bottle from Dec 2012. Left it out overnight and while it did not fall apart nothing magical happened. A good Cheval...nothing spectacular.
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5/2/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and drank over 3 hours. This bottle was in perfect condition. Pristine label, fill well into the neck and a perfect cork. Took about 30min to open up, but once it did the nose reveal dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, mint, earth, spice and old wood. The palate matched initially was a bit sour, but with time this developed into wonderfully sweet dark fruit and became brighter with time. Nice and full in the mouth and a long finish and nice grip. Better than I remember the last bottle being.
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4/8/2013 - godx wrote: flawed
La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Vancouver - 1988 Horizontal (Boneta): This nose was weird: vitamin B. candied and roasted fruits. Palate was equally strange with stripped fruit and very soft. After trying someone else’s glass, this was clearly an off bottle.
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4/8/2013 - MattTM wrote:
La Commanderie de Bordeaux: 1988 Horizontal (Boneta Restaurant - Vancouver, BC): Quite subdued on the nose with really not much showing, but there is some rich dark dried fruits, black pepper, vitamin, and sweet dates aromas evident. Tons of black plum on the palate, along with rich dark dried fruits, black pepper, and floral white flowers. High acidity, with a medium length finish ending on a note of black plums. This was different...astringent, fruit stripped, candied and rich dried fruits almost resembling a CDP. There was surely something off with this bottle, not corked, but seems like it's seen some heat somewhere during its life. It wouldn't be fair to rate this. NR
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12/30/2012 - Two Winos Likes this wine: 94 Points
French barnyard-y nose. Masculine nose. However, in the mouth it is very soft & elegant. Did not decant for fear it might not hold together and I think that was a wise decision. A very good bottle of wine!
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12/10/2012 - mbwineguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a bottle with a perfect cork and fill. Opened and poured over the course of 2 hours. Still a vibrant ruby color with little to no bricking. At first very muted on both the nose and palate. After 30 minutes became more expressive with scents of blueberries and a subtle hint of chocolate. On the palate well balanced with no soft spots. After about 2 hours it did show a slightly black fruit finish. In sum, a very good wine, but a bit subdued. Perhaps give the next bottle a couple hours to develop.
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11/15/2012 - godx wrote:
Alvin’s 60th Birthday Dinner (Le Gavroche): Medium red with some bricking at the rim. This polarized the table as some felt this was corked and others felt it was just extremely musty. I flip flopped right until my final sniff and sip and still was partially undecided, but if I was forced to pick, I’d say it was slightly corked with a lot of mustiness underneath. Either way, the wine was drinkable. Musty nose with notes of bell pepper/stems, cedar and blackcurrants. In the mouth it was soft and fairly light in weight with excellent acidity with hints of spice and sweet fruit on the finish. Tannins are mainly resolved and what’s left are very fine. Compared to the ’95, this was more mature, more delicate and more cab franc’ish. Having said all that, I don’t think this was a representative bottle and therefore judgment is reserved.
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11/15/2012 - Flavito wrote: 92 Points
Took a while to open, but then an austere, leafy nose. Improved a lot over two hours, but not a great Cheval. Well behind Pichon Lalande or Lynch Bages.
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9/10/2012 - St Paul wrote: 95 Points
Red, blue and elegant but with an underlying power. There is also some plum and coconut. I had this blind and gave my vote on a Cheval Blanc but I thought it was a bit younger. A class act I think.
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5/1/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
The years have been kind to this wine as it has developed well. With its lush, plum, coconut, truffle and cherry perfume, medium body and slight hint of rusticity to the tannins, this nice example of a classic Cheval Blanc is drinking great today.
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2/26/2012 - rhaft22 wrote: 95 Points
superb all the way around... bouquet and taste were top shelf
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4/1/2011 - mariolanza wrote: 91 Points
Great wine eclipsed by the 1983 this night. Ready and fully evolved. This bottle had good colour, spicy and heady aroma, classic St Emilion.
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10/26/2010 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Cheval Blanc dinner (The Ledbury, London): Clear kinship with the 89 with its spicy flavour profile, but this was leaner, less flamboyant, very fine
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6/11/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 95 Points
With Paul and Buckles. Opened with a lot of green notes, maybe stemmy. But over the evening this just kept changing and became more elegant and refined, though a hint of green, good green, was always there. Red fruit and pencil, this was an outstanding bottle of wine. From a mag.
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6/11/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 95 Points
Drunk from a magnum. Opens with notes of tree bark, green olives, and green pepercorns. But with time and air, the wine comes together and displays and seamless balance of spicy cassis, minerals, and wet soil. Complex, rich, and regal. More cerebral than sensual but clearly an exceptional wine.
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1/4/2010 - Ricky99 wrote: 94 Points
NYE at Pierces... decanted and let sit for over an hour prior to drinking.. very tasty. Nose came alive after decanting and sitting. Not a blockbuster per se but very refined and sexy
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11/6/2009 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
First Growths (slightly disappointing) and an amazing Port (John V.'s): The outlier in the crowd and as so often happens, it was the groups WOTN. Pretty ruby color. The nose is dusty with cherries and cassis. Slight mocha notes. On the palate, this has cassis and is slightly acidic. With air it rounds out a bit showing also some cherries and a hint of menthol. Slightly tannic.
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10/10/2009 - Terkel wrote: 94 Points
Mature Bordeaux tasting (Le Papilion): Dark red color with an orange hue. Concentrated and powerful nose with notes of blackcurrant, bush, wet forest ground and mushrooms. On the palate it is juicy and fresh with refined, pure blackcurrant, before picking up dried flowers, earth and undergrowth on the midpalate and finally some marzipan and prunes on the long finish. Very complex and refined, with fresh acidity that balances it perfectly. It remains delicate, youthful and delicious.
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3/29/2009 - BIlgen wrote: 88 Points
Dark red, matur, no signs of old age
Nice parfume, berries, fruit
Very good taste, round and souple, strong,
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3/1/2009 - delfino wrote:
Clearly not dead. In fact, for the first several hours it was as closed as a bank on Sunday. Orange at the rim, but modestly so. 6-7 hours later the wine began to open up, and though it was definitely great, I'd wait another 5 years if I could do it again.
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11/28/2008 - dougie wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours. Drank over another two. Was still opening up at the end. Became more balanced and full during the end of the time. Incredible richness and elegance.
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10/18/2008 - BIlgen wrote: 85 Points
Medium till dak red, brownish rim, bright
Beautiful nose, dark fruit, soft and fine fragrance
Mature and powerful, long finish, tight, not very subtle and round
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3/22/2008 - paha wrote: 90 Points
Incredible nose of menthol, eucalyptus and tobacco. On the palate a bit of a disappointement, lacking of fruit. Maybe the wine is going to "sleep" or is it maybe over...
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1/19/2008 - MauriceE wrote: flawed
Corked.
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12/2/2007 - chetlee wrote: 87 Points
If you own this wine, drink it now. Wine is definately past its prime, and although I enjoyed it, overall it was muted and did not reveal the flavors and nuiances I anticipated/
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10/6/2007 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Light bodied, elegant and agile, lots of graphite, some blackcurrant. In itself, a very pleasant claret, but neither complex nor concentrated and lacking the wow factor that one expects from a Cheval Blanc.
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9/4/2006 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - First Growth Night (Guillaume at Bennelong): Dropping back a vintage, the 1988 is more obviously aged; the faintly exotic-spiced nose here only slightly compromised by a metallic note. It’s still seems promising, though. On the palate, it’s similar in profile to its younger [1989] sibling, except all the structural elements seem wound back a notch, with the result that it begins to look a bit thin. Drying tannins are the final remnant on the palate; drink up now is what this wine tells us. Consumed with the first course of the meal both wines lifted considerably, as you’d expect with top claret, so it’s not too much of a trial…
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10/3/2003 - Joe Belmaati wrote: flawed
Corked. Not graded..
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4/12/2003 - chbeaumont wrote: 91 Points
Shade lighter than Figeac but colour out to rim; restrained nose, fragrant touch of iron filings; flattering, easy going charm, smooth. extÕd finish. 16>
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6/15/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Bright disc with medium red robe and red/orange rim. After decanting and aerating for 45 minutes, the wine shows intense mint, cherry, coffee, cola and a hint of cedar. The tannins are ample but supple, with a medium-bodied palate which shows similar flavors as the nose. The finish is very long and smooth. May improve further, but is so pleasant now that it is certainly not a crime to drink up!
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12/1/2001 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($300) The Mann's '88 Blowout: Musky Nose of herbs and bitter chocolate. Medium bodied, moderate acidity with great balance and length.
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