Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 4 days ago
Back at the kings court today — 5 hours ago
Medium deep ruby. Quite thin ruby , garnet rim . Touches of cedar , sous bois , grafite , touch of cassis , sea spray, a little green perhaps . On the palate quite dry , cassis , sous bois and grafite touches . Balanced alcohol with slightly dry tannin . Slightly short, but balanced enough and in a good place now . Drink now and over next few years — 4 days ago
Jay Kline
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. — a day ago