Cheval Blanc 1990

One of my favorite Cheval Blancs, it remains to be seen if the 1998, 2000, and 2008 will live up to this offering. It is the ripest wine of the aforementioned vintages, with a complex bouquet of tobacco leaf, Christmas fruitcake, sweet black fruits, bordering on fig and plum, but no hint of overripeness, and notions of new saddle leather, mint, and incense. The gorgeously expressive aromatics are followed by a full-bodied wine revealing abundant glycerin as well as elevated alcohol, but it is not hot, and nothing is out of place. Expansive, rich, and revealing the nuances and complexity that come from bottle age, it is at its peak of maturity where it should remain for another 10-15 years. Release price: ($3000.00/case)

This is really wonderful and a big surprise for the tasting with wonderful flowers, dark berries and hints of currants on the nose. It's full and very silky with a wonderful precision and finesse. Goes on and on. Wow. What a finish. This is a buy call. So outstanding. Just a baby but a joy to drink.

This is undeniably a great Cheval Blanc, though whether it has the class and sophistication of the '85 is another matter. As anticipated it has a rich, decadent nose with ripe blackberry, dates, mulberry and liquorice. A gregarious bouquet. The palate is full-bodied, showy and perhaps in the company of the '85, 'vulgar'. But it is still delightful with layers of ripe black fruits, grippy tannins, evolving a savoury touch with its sumptuous Pomerol-like finish. Exotic, fat, in-ya-face