1979 Château Cheval Blanc

Community Tasting Notes (35) Avg Score: 89.3 points

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  4/11/2024 - SoleModel23 Likes this wine: 99 Points

  Bottle Details: Mid Shoulder Fill, Cork Disintegrated, Splash Decanted for 20 minutes, then rebottled and corked until dinner (4 hours later). Then savored and drank all night long. Will last well into its 50's birthdays.
  
  Drank during our first sail on the newly purchased Booze Cruise "Majesty 108" with the WineKwondo's. Mario, what a SHIP!! Bottle was drank along side some of the best wines in the world, including: 1970 Lafite, 2005 Opus One, 1982 Grand Puy Lacoste, 1997 Beringer Private Reserve, 1986 Caymus Special Select, 1990 Pichon Baron, 2007 Insignia, 1970 Cos D'Estournel...... Along with some others. 1979 Cheval Blanc was just one tier above them all
  
  Wow, another perfect example of how I cannot trust anyone else's palate but my own! What a BEAUTIFUL example of what a properly aged first growth caliber producer intends to do with these bottles. The leather, cassis, leather, plum, leather....... and did I say LEATHER?!?! My, Oh My!! The 75 second long finish lingering in your mouth begging for you to take another sip. Such a smooth, silky finish, but yet, surprisingly youthful. One sip coats your whole mouth.
  
  I wish I had more, and I wish I could be there drinking with everyone rating this perfect example of a 45 year old Merlot anything lower than a 95, so I could be the one sneaking away out the back door with the bottle to enjoy as it should! LOL, Anyone want to get rid of their bottles, feel free to contact me, I will gladly take them off your hands!

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  4/8/2023 - burlingtonm wrote: 85 Points

  Well past its best: faded with not much fruit left nor pleasure either.

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  3/10/2023 - LotionInTheBasket Likes this wine:

  Time to drink up as they say, and this was on that list for me. Bottom line, its there if not past there, enjoy. Cork was solid, no seepage, pulled clean. Poured to a decanter, little to no sediment. Nose was a rare word I use in these cases, seductive. Dark Fruit, beets, V8, tobacco, pencil shaving, still holding to some forest and herbs. Hour decant. Super light in body, shocked vs how opaque and lively the nose. Mixed fruit, ripe plums and strawberry, medium acidity, forest floor, mushrooms, truffles, glycerin; little to none on tannin. Another hour, its silk, so smooth, singing. Only gripe is the light finish, no length. Its a now wine, nothing lingers, killer on the front and a great time capsule of what was and doesn't hang out for the finish.

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  7/8/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 87 Points

  Past its expiration date, brick in color, this light-weight wine has entered its gentle state of decline. The last remaining vestiges of red plums are well-hidden behind all the green herb, tobacco, smoke, wet forest, truffle, cigar, mint, and earthy characteristics. The short finish is on the bright, tart side. There is no reason to hold this bottle any longer as it is only going to decline from here.

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  9/10/2021 - jbs712 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Yet another example of how underrated the ‘79 first growths are. After working my way through some 79 Lafite and Margaux over the last few months, I finally turned to the Cheval Blanc. Immediately upon opening, I could tell the bottle was in good condition, and as it hit the decanter the nose was pronounced and distinctive. Decanted for about an hour, but it hardly needed it—drank spectacularly from the first pour. Solid notes of plum, cassis, and leather — although a little less earthy than the Lafite or Margaux — and delivered a wonderful, balanced finish. Like I said, the 79s are a completely underrated vintage — for the life of me I just don’t get the 89.1 rating here on CT — and I will continue to acquire the 79s at auction whenever I can find them. Just a really enjoyable wine that still has room to evolve.

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