Cheval Blanc 2004

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

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Tasting Notes
Pretty dark crimson. Low key, but convincing scent. Actually surprisingly animal on the nose, then a little raw on the palate. Although this is not tarted up, I'm not really convinced about this wine. Rather awkward - does it show the weaknesses of the vintage a bit too obviously, or perhaps this is just a teenage stage? Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2013-2022 28 July 2009
I had high hopes for this Cheval Blanc out of barrel, perhaps a return to form? I still think this is a very fine Saint Emilion although it has not quite fulfilled the promise it initially showed. A very deep ruby/garnet colour. The nose seems to be quite backward with the Cabernet Franc component in the driving seat, aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate and iron rust. Good definition. The palate displays firm tannins, a rather 'edgy' Cheval Blanc, quite tight and bashful; minerally and hints of burnt toast on the surprisingly dry finish. I will be more parsimonious with my score, but something tells me that it could put on weight over the next 5-6 years. Drink 2015-2025+ Tasted November 2008. (92+ Points) Score: 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2025+ 01 March 2009
Intense aromas of tar, blackberry and wet earth, with just a hint of tobacco and flowers. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Extracted, yet turns caressing and velvety in texture. Broad-shouldered and muscular for this estate. This is better than the 2000. Best after 2012. 3,500 cases made. Score: 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012+ 31 March 2007
Eighty thousand bottles of 2004 Cheval Blanc were produced from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Subtle herb, menthol, cranberry, black currant, and licorice aromas emerge from this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. It is medium-bodied and elegant with plenty of sweet fruit, but not a lot of weight or intensity. The complexity and nobility of Cheval Blanc’s gravelly terroir is apparent in this delicate, subtle St.-Emilion. Give it a few years to develop additional aromatics, and drink it over the following 12-15. Score: 90 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025 01 June 2007
The 2004 Cheval Blanc displays a dark plum/ruby color in addition to a perfumed sweet nose of cranberries, cherries, incense, dried herbs, espresso, and mocha. Elegant, medium-bodied, layered, and significantly richer than its weight suggests, this defined, perfumed, stylish wine should at its peak between 2008-2019. It is an outstanding, but hardly inspired effort. Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2008-2019 06 June 2006
This may be the finest Cheval Blanc since the monumental 2000. Only 50% of the crop made it into the final blend (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot). Cheval has a tendency to come across as a bit light in its infancy, but the 2004 lacks neither stuffing nor intensity. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a classic Cheval perfume of menthol, red as well as black currants, smoke, oranges, and black tea. It possesses beautiful sweetness and purity, medium body, extraordinary elegance, and potential complexity. While not a blockbuster in the style of the 2000 and 1998, it is a precise, fragrant, potentially top-flight effort as well as one of the finest wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022. Score: 93 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2022 30 April 2005
Good bright ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of plum, flowers, licorice, menthol and Asian spices. Suave on entry, then dry and tight in the middle; extremely backward and shut down. Most impressive now for its finesse of texture. But today there's little sign of the fleshiness the wine showed in the spring after the harvest. Lock this one away for a while and forget about it. This vintage has more cab franc than merlot. (90+ points) Score: 90 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2007

Tasting Notes

Pretty dark crimson. Low key, but convincing scent. Actually surprisingly animal on the nose, then a little raw on the palate. Although this is not tarted up, I'm not really convinced about this wine. Rather awkward - does it show the weaknesses of the vintage a bit too obviously, or perhaps this is just a teenage stage?

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2013-2022 28 July 2009

I had high hopes for this Cheval Blanc out of barrel, perhaps a return to form? I still think this is a very fine Saint Emilion although it has not quite fulfilled the promise it initially showed. A very deep ruby/garnet colour. The nose seems to be quite backward with the Cabernet Franc component in the driving seat, aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate and iron rust. Good definition. The palate displays firm tannins, a rather 'edgy' Cheval Blanc, quite tight and bashful; minerally and hints of burnt toast on the surprisingly dry finish. I will be more parsimonious with my score, but something tells me that it could put on weight over the next 5-6 years. Drink 2015-2025+ Tasted November 2008. (92+ Points)

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2025+ 01 March 2009

Intense aromas of tar, blackberry and wet earth, with just a hint of tobacco and flowers. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Extracted, yet turns caressing and velvety in texture. Broad-shouldered and muscular for this estate. This is better than the 2000. Best after 2012. 3,500 cases made.

Score: 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012+ 31 March 2007

Eighty thousand bottles of 2004 Cheval Blanc were produced from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Subtle herb, menthol, cranberry, black currant, and licorice aromas emerge from this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. It is medium-bodied and elegant with plenty of sweet fruit, but not a lot of weight or intensity. The complexity and nobility of Cheval Blanc’s gravelly terroir is apparent in this delicate, subtle St.-Emilion. Give it a few years to develop additional aromatics, and drink it over the following 12-15.

Score: 90

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025 01 June 2007

The 2004 Cheval Blanc displays a dark plum/ruby color in addition to a perfumed sweet nose of cranberries, cherries, incense, dried herbs, espresso, and mocha. Elegant, medium-bodied, layered, and significantly richer than its weight suggests, this defined, perfumed, stylish wine should at its peak between 2008-2019. It is an outstanding, but hardly inspired effort.

Score: 90 - 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2008-2019 06 June 2006

This may be the finest Cheval Blanc since the monumental 2000. Only 50% of the crop made it into the final blend (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot). Cheval has a tendency to come across as a bit light in its infancy, but the 2004 lacks neither stuffing nor intensity. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a classic Cheval perfume of menthol, red as well as black currants, smoke, oranges, and black tea. It possesses beautiful sweetness and purity, medium body, extraordinary elegance, and potential complexity. While not a blockbuster in the style of the 2000 and 1998, it is a precise, fragrant, potentially top-flight effort as well as one of the finest wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2022 30 April 2005

Good bright ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of plum, flowers, licorice, menthol and Asian spices. Suave on entry, then dry and tight in the middle; extremely backward and shut down. Most impressive now for its finesse of texture. But today there's little sign of the fleshiness the wine showed in the spring after the harvest. Lock this one away for a while and forget about it. This vintage has more cab franc than merlot. (90+ points)

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2007

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