This is my fourth time sampling this beauty, and it is as consistent as the day is long; the 2020 Cheval Blanc is all about class and refinement, with perfectly defined red and purple berry flavors…
This was best after half the bottle was recorked (not gassed) and left in a cold cellar for three days. Modern, dark, and powerful, but sans the heat after the third day. Let these lie for a number…
Funky, tired, and fairly flat. There were grumblings about possible questionable storage here, which I unfortunately think to be the case. Cheval is one of my favorite Right Bank houses, but I think…
A better showing than a few months ago, this bottle was fresher and more focused. It still seems to be straining for a full depth of flavor, so perhaps more time in bottle is needed. It's very lifted…
Freshness is at the forefront with the 20% Cab Franc pushing the Merlot to the side and flooding the senses with red/purple licorice, red cherry, and floral notes on the playful attack. With more…
This fell flat with a 4-5oz Coravin pull. It was next to a 2015 Rauzan-Segla that initially was just as dumb, but managed to wake up and eventually obliterate the Belair-Monange. The B-M displayed…
A few Coravin pulls from this bottle remind me that 2020 Cheval Blanc is an off-the-charts pure and regal expression, but it will require patience for sure. This had a flash in the glass of…
There is a polish here that immediately adds to the textural profile of this Canon. Somewhat plush, but not so much that it makes for too fruity or flabby of a delivery, the 2018 is similar…
I had much to gush about with this 2016 back when I had it in April. My notes still ring true for the most part, but this bottle was a bit more reserved. Clearly, 2016 is a solid vintage for…
When in St. Emilion recently, there were a lot of wineries and wine shops pushing out their 2011s, declaring that the vintage had come around and was in a great drinking window. Honestly, I always…
A just fine, fun-ish, easy going, smooth, simple, kinda fruity, BBQ on a sunny May afternoon kind of wine. Don't think about it. Nothing for me to seek out necessarily, but it's ok if you just want…
The 2006 is a bit reserved, and even tired along its execution of red and some black fruit flavors, with a shorter than expected finish. A 2009 eclipsed this by a mile. The 2006's freshness was…
A compelling bottle of wine. In great spot, with smooth tannins but great grip, relaxing just enough to allow the dark and somewhat earthy fruit come in. This obliterated a 2006 Valandraud next to…
Sauvage, black cherry, meat drippings, and sanguine notes creep along the palate, ending in a clip of dusty tannins on back end that seem to disallow the flavors from fully expanding. This bottle…
At the Cheval Blanc estate. This is simply a beautiful bottle of wine that is absolutely singing right now. With just an hour or so of decanted air, this 2011 behaves much like the 2009 and 2010, but…
At the Figeac Estate. A stellar vintage for Figeac, and one that is really starting to come into a nice drinking window. Steeped black cherry, earth, spice, subtle dust, and black currant. Finishes…
At the Figeac Estate. Agreeable and a little fruity. No real need to wait in this, as it's an easy going tag along for any casual dinner at (insert any medieval village in Dordogne). Plum and black…
