Appellations

Cheval Blanc 2014

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

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Tasting Notes
The 2014 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc and 55% Merlot, picked from 19 September until 8 October. It has a very succinct, almost understated bouquet, here a mixture of red and black fruit, cold limestone and crushed rose petals (the latter observed when the wine was in barrel). It is not a set of aromatics that go out and grab your attention, rather the sophistication creeps up on you. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin. Unlike the Deuxième Vin, there is real structure and backbone here, a gentle but insistent grip in the mouth. It errs towards black instead of red fruit, intermingling with sage and cumin, then segueing into a precise finish with a long, lingering ferrous finish (à la Pomerol!), finally a hint of oyster shell on the aftertaste. It is one of the most subtle Cheval Blancs that I have tasted in a long time, although it will doubtlessly be deceptively long lived. This is a serious Cheval Blanc for serious oenophiles. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 Date: 31 March 2017
The Château Cheval Blanc 2014 is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc and 55% Merlot, picked from 19 September until 8 October. The alcohol level is 13.25% matured in 100% new oak, which Pierre Lurton told me was prolonged due to the heterogenous soils and wanting to wait for the Cabernet Franc on clay soils to reach full maturity. It is quintessential Cheval Blanc on the nose: predominantly red fruit here rather than black, touches of incense and dried roses, a dab of liquorice underneath. The Cabernet Franc is the engine behind the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin. This is not a silky smooth Cheval Blanc - here there is an graininess to the tannin that exert a gentle grip in the mouth. It is a complex and cerebral wine with cracked black pepper on the almost ferrous finish. Like the second wine, it is linear and fresh, in some ways reminiscent of the string of superb wines produced in the 1980s. This is a formidable Cheval Blanc whose evolution will be fascinating to witness. Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2045 Date: 01 April 2015
Aromas of strawberries, flowers and rose petals. Medium to full body and such beautiful polish and finesse. The texture is remarkably silky. It’s a wine all in elegance and harmony. Such length. Try in 2022 but already a joy to taste. Score: 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 February 2017
There is a little more cabernet franc than normal. Full body with fine and silky tannins, and a deep and beautiful fruit and acid balance. Wet earth, dried flowers and dried fruits. A beautiful length. Dense and compacted. Very fine tannins. Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 27 March 2015
The 2014 Cheval Blanc is delicate, saline and beautifully layered throughout. Mocha, dark cherries, plums, menthol and new leather are all pushed forward in a mid-weight, gracious Cheval Blanc that impresses with its superb overall balance and pure harmony. Cabernet Franc, 45% of this year's blend, is super-expressive in the glass. Sweet rose petal, violet, mint and herbs are laced into the sensual finish. Here too, the style is resonant, generous and inviting, with beams of acidity and salinity that convey brightness. Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 05 May 2015
Heady and fine with roses and cherries. Rich and full in the mouth with some crispness and minerality. Lovely definition and a velvety texture. Score: 94 - 97 Albany Vintners, - Date: 24 April 2015
All the terroirs of the property but especially the gravel . Bright ruby, gentle and rather muted. Very cool . No drama! Gentle and rather balletic. Some burgundian force towards the end of the palate. Lots to chew on and rather different from the old style. A flight from drama! Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 13 April 2015
Reserved aromatically for now, but this has a lot at its clutch, with remarkably silky plum, currant and raspberry fruit inlaid seamlessly with alder, rooibos tea and bergamot notes. There's a fine minerality that stretches out the finish, with remarkable cut, delineation and finesse. This is gorgeous. Tasted non-blind. Score: 96 - 99 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2015

Tasting Notes

The 2014 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc and 55% Merlot, picked from 19 September until 8 October. It has a very succinct, almost understated bouquet, here a mixture of red and black fruit, cold limestone and crushed rose petals (the latter observed when the wine was in barrel). It is not a set of aromatics that go out and grab your attention, rather the sophistication creeps up on you. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin. Unlike the Deuxième Vin, there is real structure and backbone here, a gentle but insistent grip in the mouth. It errs towards black instead of red fruit, intermingling with sage and cumin, then segueing into a precise finish with a long, lingering ferrous finish (à la Pomerol!), finally a hint of oyster shell on the aftertaste. It is one of the most subtle Cheval Blancs that I have tasted in a long time, although it will doubtlessly be deceptively long lived. This is a serious Cheval Blanc for serious oenophiles.

Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 Date: 31 March 2017

The Château Cheval Blanc 2014 is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc and 55% Merlot, picked from 19 September until 8 October. The alcohol level is 13.25% matured in 100% new oak, which Pierre Lurton told me was prolonged due to the heterogenous soils and wanting to wait for the Cabernet Franc on clay soils to reach full maturity. It is quintessential Cheval Blanc on the nose: predominantly red fruit here rather than black, touches of incense and dried roses, a dab of liquorice underneath. The Cabernet Franc is the engine behind the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin. This is not a silky smooth Cheval Blanc - here there is an graininess to the tannin that exert a gentle grip in the mouth. It is a complex and cerebral wine with cracked black pepper on the almost ferrous finish. Like the second wine, it is linear and fresh, in some ways reminiscent of the string of superb wines produced in the 1980s. This is a formidable Cheval Blanc whose evolution will be fascinating to witness.

Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2045 Date: 01 April 2015

Aromas of strawberries, flowers and rose petals. Medium to full body and such beautiful polish and finesse. The texture is remarkably silky. It’s a wine all in elegance and harmony. Such length. Try in 2022 but already a joy to taste.

Score: 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 February 2017

There is a little more cabernet franc than normal. Full body with fine and silky tannins, and a deep and beautiful fruit and acid balance. Wet earth, dried flowers and dried fruits. A beautiful length. Dense and compacted. Very fine tannins.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 27 March 2015

The 2014 Cheval Blanc is delicate, saline and beautifully layered throughout. Mocha, dark cherries, plums, menthol and new leather are all pushed forward in a mid-weight, gracious Cheval Blanc that impresses with its superb overall balance and pure harmony. Cabernet Franc, 45% of this year's blend, is super-expressive in the glass. Sweet rose petal, violet, mint and herbs are laced into the sensual finish. Here too, the style is resonant, generous and inviting, with beams of acidity and salinity that convey brightness.

Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 05 May 2015

Heady and fine with roses and cherries. Rich and full in the mouth with some crispness and minerality. Lovely definition and a velvety texture.

Score: 94 - 97 Albany Vintners, - Date: 24 April 2015

All the terroirs of the property but especially the gravel . Bright ruby, gentle and rather muted. Very cool . No drama! Gentle and rather balletic. Some burgundian force towards the end of the palate. Lots to chew on and rather different from the old style. A flight from drama!

Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 13 April 2015

Reserved aromatically for now, but this has a lot at its clutch, with remarkably silky plum, currant and raspberry fruit inlaid seamlessly with alder, rooibos tea and bergamot notes. There's a fine minerality that stretches out the finish, with remarkable cut, delineation and finesse. This is gorgeous. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 96 - 99 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2015

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Cheval Blanc 2014

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

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