Chateau Cheval Blanc 2008 1500ml

96 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

95-97 Barrel sample. A wine that goes instantly for juiciness. The mineral perfumes of Cabernet Franc come through only after penetrating the dense Merlot fruit cake flavors. It is a powerful wine, based upon ripe acidity.

95 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

A great success, showing impressive concentration. It is almost severe to begin with, then sweet tannins sweep in. The higher than usual proportion of Merlot gives a wine that combines plumpness with black plums, figs and acidity. Obviously for aging.

95 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

Cheval Blanc gives a different expression of Cabernet Franc to Ausone, in terms of its kick and structure. The tannins feel enveloping, going deep rather than high, full of complex layers of tight black fruits, succulent brambly fruits and liquorice root.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

I am really impressed with this. It is powerful and rich with so much blueberry, vanilla and spice on the nose and palate. It's full and very spicy, and fruit on the palate, but remains refined and subtle. Rich and polished tannins. This needs at least five years of bottle age to come around.

94 POINTS

Stephen Tanzer - Vinous

Bright red-ruby. Brooding aromas and flavors of licorice, cherry pit, bitter chocolate and black cardamom. Lush and sweet in the mouth but with terrific definition and grip. This very young wine is most impressive on the vibrant, mounting, palate-saturating aftertaste, which features fine-grained tannins, solid structure and lovely spicy perfume. Wonderfully aristocratic wine whose outstanding energy should ensure a long and graceful evolution in bottle.

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

This isn't shy about letting a tobacco leaf note weave in and out, while the core of red currant, damson plum and bitter cherry grows and fleshes out as this airs. The long finish lets mineral, red licorice and mesquite check in as well. Shows impressive range, with some youthful grip still to be shed.

93 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

In time, the profound 2008 Cheval Blanc will rank alongside this estate's great successes of 2005, 2000, and 1998. A harvest that began at the end of September and concluded October 19 has produced a wine with the 1998's complexity and the power of the 2000. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 reveals an ethereal nose of subtle menthol intertwined with spring flowers, plums, black currants, and sweet cherries. The wine's seamlessness is enthralling, and, despite the late harvest as well as late malolactics, it is already displaying admirable complexity. This is a beautifully complete, full-bodied Cheval Blanc that dances across the palate with the finesse of a world-class ballerina. Analytically, there is plenty of tannin, but it is totally integrated. While the acids are slightly elevated, they are not noticeable. A tour de force! This wine should evolve for three decades or more.

Jancis Robinson

Mid crimson. Some real interest on the nose. Luscious fruit with real savour and interest. Dense and layered. Very intriguing and serious long-term wine. No ersatz sweetness nor oak though it’s a bit painful to drink at the moment. Just a bit inexpressive at the moment. Hugely uncommunicative – classic teenager? Very youthful. Score: 17.5/20