Jay Kline

9.3

I never would have anticipated drinking my birth year of Cheval Blanc out of a Solo cup yet, here we are. The ‘81 is ruddy still; deep garnet color with some browning towards the rim and loads of sediment. The nose shows some of the telltale green-ness of vintage but everything has found harmony: the fruit has blossomed and structure has integrated. Dark fruited with tobacco, dried purple flowers, mushrooms, herbs and soft eastern spices. Charming! No particular rush to drink these but lovely now. — 8 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.7

97+ - 100. Tight and packed. Also very profound and complex. Fine and long. It will blossom like a shining star. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass, the wine is a white wine with a pale straw color; medium viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is youthful with powerful notes of grapefruit, lemon curd, some grassy herbal notes, and faint honeysuckle. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+, almost high acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is super long and has a luxurious texture.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Albariño or even Chardonnay from France, the United States, Germany, or Spain. But there is something about that herbal character that just has me in Sauvignon Blanc land and the rich honeyed, juicy texture makes me think this has some Semillon in it…and it’s seen some deft oak treatment. This is a beautiful wine and I think someone was being generous at Tasting Group for the holidays.

Final conclusion: So I’m going Sauvignon Blanc based Bordeaux Blanc blend from France, from Bordeaux, from Pessac-Leognan, 2020. Wrong Bank. Well I’ll be damned! I’ve never had Cheval Blanc’s…ahem, blanc. What a wine! This can be laid down for decades but it’s already special in its youth. — 10 months ago

Martijn

9.0

@Kay Delectable this is the grand sec wine only the second vintage made of this (2020 was the first). Interesting wine which needs a decant at this time to open up. — 4 hours ago

with Eric and Willem

James Brenner

9.2

Later sold to Cheval Blanc 1998 — 5 months ago

with Lauren

Jeff Decker

9.3

Full bodied and smooth sauv Blanc that lends low acid grapefruit — 6 months ago

Scott C

Founder / Co-director SR Wine imports

9.8

Stunning !!! No words needed — 10 months ago

Martijn

8.9

Too sweet yet for my personal liking. I like them older more. — 4 hours ago

with Eric and Willem

Ellen Clifford

9.3

I opened this on my birthday (it seemed apropos). Like its big brother (sister/horse-er?), it is a St-Émilion Grand Cru…and I tried the 2021, which, omg, I feel bad I have committed so much wine infanticide in my life…this is good now but shows SO much promise for age-ousity (new wine adjective, adverb?) Made of 60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Blackberries, tobacco, slight violet notes and toasty cedar on the nose initially, heavy twirling teases out hints of red plum. The palate starts earthy, broadening across the mid-palate to reveal juicy, juicy cassis (red and black) and a touch of dried vines that reads as enriching, not drying—inching further towards perfume on the finish. The tannins are the melt-in-your-mouth type—they make themselves known and then relax. I loved this wine. Give it air if you open it now, lots of air and twirl it like it’s the belle of the ball, but ideally, give it a little more time. I’m not sure when it will peak, but it should continue to evolve favorably over the years. — a month ago

Karyn Fricke

9.0

Stone fruit aromas of peaches and apricots. Touch of minerals, not too much acidity. Easy drinking on its own or with food. — 7 months ago