Cheval Blanc 2005

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy

Tasting Notes
Always a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and spices. It's full-bodied with beautifully dense tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. It would be better to leave it alone until 2020 but so hard not to revel in its splendor now. Score: 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2020+ 15 October 2015
I am not sure what to say about the nose. It's so complex, with minerals, berries, wet earth and light vanilla. Turns to licorice and mint. Full-bodied, with amazing tannins and a long, long finish. This is so refined and long. Pure silk. Score: 95 - 100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 1900
The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. Drink it over the next 20 years. P.S. In 2005, this was 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2035 29 June 2015
The dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 Cheval Blanc’s ethereal bouquet of menthol, coffee, wet stones, black cherries, blackberries, and hints of graphite and spice soars from the glass. An equal part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is medium to full-bodied with a gorgeous texture in addition to high tannins that glide over the palate with no angularity or astringency. While it does not quite reach the perfection of the 2000, it should rival the profound 1998 and 1990. This is not a Cheval Blanc for near-term drinking as it demands at least a decade’s worth of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035. Score: 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 30 April 2008
This spectacular blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot has put on weight over the last year (as most top Chevals tend to do). The color is an inky/blue/ruby/purple, and the wine reveals an extraordinary aromatic profile of subtle mocha, licorice, pain grille, and abundant red, blue, and black fruits. As usual, there is an underlying hint of menthol, or is it forest floor? A classic, quintessential medium-bodied Cheval Blanc boasting a stunning texture and high tannin, but neither aggressiveness nor angularity, the 2005 appears capable of rivaling the extraordinary 2000 and 1998. However, the production of 95,000 bottles is relatively small. It requires 6-8 years of bottle age, and it should evolve effortlessly for 35+ years. Score: 96 - 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2013-2042 30 April 2007
A prodigious Cheval Blanc that should challenge the 2000 and 1998 as the finest Cheval since the 1990, the 2005's final blend consisted of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The Merlot harvest began on September 15th and lasted until the Cabernet Franc was finished around October 6th. Administrator Pierre Lurton told me, I prefer to pick the Merlot a little early, and the Cabernet Franc a little late.” The deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 reveals an extraordinary projected, surreal bouquet of menthol, red, blue, and black fruits, and hints of mocha, licorice, and sweet oak. This opulent, tremendously concentrated Cheval Blanc possesses undeniable finesse, elegance, and freshness as well as a vibrant, nuanced, delineated personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+. Score: 95 - 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2006
Very dark and lustrous. Much more obviously Cabernet Franc than the Petit Cheval - quite rigorous and yet still ripe though with some really aromatic leafiness - in the appetising rather than underripe spectrum. Even a hint of black pepper. Extremely broad and ripe and sumptuous. Full, sweet yet with lovely lift and lustrousness - it does seem less earthbound than some recent vintages. Certainly very, very ripe. The finest tannins - like the threads in a silk shawl. A lovely skein of flavours. So very, very neat and confident. Great freshness! Very reminiscent of older classic Cheval vintages - 1983 with a bit more flesh? Score: 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2035 01 January 1900
Made principally from Cabernet Franc (55% with 45% Merlot), Cheval Blanc is one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive wines and an aristocrat of the Right Bank. In dry vintages such as 1947, 1982, 1990 and 2000, Cheval Blanc is unbeatable and the 2005 proved that it is in the same league as these legendary wines. We were speechless on first tasting this, and then came the rush of superlatives! A very sophisticated and aromatic nose with wonderful lift and vibrancy. Very focused on entry this then unfurls to reveal gorgeously voluptuous and pure fruit with incredible density and a luxuriant deep velvet texture. Great balance and poise and pure Cabernet Franc character on the finish. Better freshness than the 1982. Wow. Score: - Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900

Tasting Notes

Always a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and spices. It's full-bodied with beautifully dense tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. It would be better to leave it alone until 2020 but so hard not to revel in its splendor now.

Score: 98

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2020+ 15 October 2015

I am not sure what to say about the nose. It's so complex, with minerals, berries, wet earth and light vanilla. Turns to licorice and mint. Full-bodied, with amazing tannins and a long, long finish. This is so refined and long. Pure silk.

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 1900

The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. Drink it over the next 20 years. P.S. In 2005, this was 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot.

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2035 29 June 2015

The dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 Cheval Blanc’s ethereal bouquet of menthol, coffee, wet stones, black cherries, blackberries, and hints of graphite and spice soars from the glass. An equal part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is medium to full-bodied with a gorgeous texture in addition to high tannins that glide over the palate with no angularity or astringency. While it does not quite reach the perfection of the 2000, it should rival the profound 1998 and 1990. This is not a Cheval Blanc for near-term drinking as it demands at least a decade’s worth of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035.

Score: 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 30 April 2008

This spectacular blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot has put on weight over the last year (as most top Chevals tend to do). The color is an inky/blue/ruby/purple, and the wine reveals an extraordinary aromatic profile of subtle mocha, licorice, pain grille, and abundant red, blue, and black fruits. As usual, there is an underlying hint of menthol, or is it forest floor? A classic, quintessential medium-bodied Cheval Blanc boasting a stunning texture and high tannin, but neither aggressiveness nor angularity, the 2005 appears capable of rivaling the extraordinary 2000 and 1998. However, the production of 95,000 bottles is relatively small. It requires 6-8 years of bottle age, and it should evolve effortlessly for 35+ years.

Score: 96 - 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2013-2042 30 April 2007

A prodigious Cheval Blanc that should challenge the 2000 and 1998 as the finest Cheval since the 1990, the 2005's final blend consisted of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. The Merlot harvest began on September 15th and lasted until the Cabernet Franc was finished around October 6th. Administrator Pierre Lurton told me, I prefer to pick the Merlot a little early, and the Cabernet Franc a little late.” The deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 reveals an extraordinary projected, surreal bouquet of menthol, red, blue, and black fruits, and hints of mocha, licorice, and sweet oak. This opulent, tremendously concentrated Cheval Blanc possesses undeniable finesse, elegance, and freshness as well as a vibrant, nuanced, delineated personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+.

Score: 95 - 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2006

Very dark and lustrous. Much more obviously Cabernet Franc than the Petit Cheval - quite rigorous and yet still ripe though with some really aromatic leafiness - in the appetising rather than underripe spectrum. Even a hint of black pepper. Extremely broad and ripe and sumptuous. Full, sweet yet with lovely lift and lustrousness - it does seem less earthbound than some recent vintages. Certainly very, very ripe. The finest tannins - like the threads in a silk shawl. A lovely skein of flavours. So very, very neat and confident. Great freshness! Very reminiscent of older classic Cheval vintages - 1983 with a bit more flesh?

Score: 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2035 01 January 1900

Made principally from Cabernet Franc (55% with 45% Merlot), Cheval Blanc is one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive wines and an aristocrat of the Right Bank. In dry vintages such as 1947, 1982, 1990 and 2000, Cheval Blanc is unbeatable and the 2005 proved that it is in the same league as these legendary wines. We were speechless on first tasting this, and then came the rush of superlatives! A very sophisticated and aromatic nose with wonderful lift and vibrancy. Very focused on entry this then unfurls to reveal gorgeously voluptuous and pure fruit with incredible density and a luxuriant deep velvet texture. Great balance and poise and pure Cabernet Franc character on the finish. Better freshness than the 1982. Wow.

Score: -

Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900

Your Lists & Checkout

New Arrivals

Advanced Search

wine regions

quick links

Cheval Blanc 2005

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

search wines

Full wine List

RSS feeds

wine regions

join our mailing list