2018 Cheval Blanc

100 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle bright rim. Fine nougat layered with sweet spices, ripe black berry fruit, ripe plums, delicate orange zest. Powerful, shows an enormous fruit extract, firm, carrying, fully ripe tannins, great complexity and sweetness, shows enormous freshness and elegance, lasts for minutes.

100 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle edge brightening. Fine nougat, with sweet spices in the background, ripe black berry fruit, ripe plum, subtle orange zest. Powerful, shows an enormous extract sweetness, firm, supporting, fully ripe tannins, great complexity and sweetness, shows great freshness and elegance, lingers for minutes.

99 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

This is a wonderful, fairly classic Cheval Blanc, less exuberant than some of the wines that you're going to find in 2018. It's full of intense red and black berries, floral notes, and a ton of menthol, eucalyptus and liquorice which underpins the entire concentrated fruit expression. Silky tannins slowly layer up over the palate. It's full of focus and extremely elegant but it accelerates through the mid-palate, gathering strength as it goes. I love this wine in so many vintages, and they have done it again in 2018. There's no press wine, as ever, with 74% of the crop making it into this wine. 98-100 points.

99 POINTS

James Suckling

Love the floral character to the aromas of dark fruit, such as blueberries and black cherries. Red and black licorice, too. The full-bodied palate starts slowly and then expands with super polished, searing tannins that lead you up the palate into a place of grandeur. Lightly chewy at the end. Such great purity and presence here. 6% cabernet sauvignon in the blend with franc and merlot. Try after 2028.

98 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Thirty-three plots contributed to this wine, out of the 43 in production. Five went into Petit Cheval and five into bulk. The 2018 Château Cheval Blanc is a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 3.75 pH and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, the nose is more open at the core of the wine than the Le Petit Cheval, strutting out of the glass with bold, ripe black cherries, cassis, warm plums and raspberry preserves notes. With coaxing, a whole array of fragrant spice, floral and earth notes emerge, followed by candied violets, star anise, powdered cinnamon, iron ore, tapenade and truffles plus wafts of camphor and mocha. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm yet possesses a beautifully plush structure of velvety tannins wrapping round the densely packed, complex, fragrant fruit, with seamless freshness and a very long, layered finish.

98 POINTS

James Suckling

What strikes you is how aromatic this already is at this stage. Complex and decadent, showing lots of dark berries, smoked meat, wet earth, and dried leaves. Decadent. Full-bodied with very ripe and polished, velvety tannins. Great finish. Points: 98-99

98 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2018 Cheval Blanc is dazzling. Creamy, supple and inviting, the 2018 is endowed with phenomenal balance. The tannins and overall structure are imposing, and yet the richness of the fruit and perfect ripeness of the tannin really stand out. In 2018, Cheval is a bit richer than is often the case, but that is not at all a bad thing. I am struck by how much freshness and energy the 2018 has. Hints of lavender, spice and licorice add shades of nuance, but it is the wine's overall sense of harmony that leaves the strongest impression. A precise counterpoint of fruit richness and finesse makes for a truly unforgettable Cheval Blanc. Points: 97-100