95/100 Vinous
"The 1989 Cheval Blanc is a vintage that I have not encountered since 2010. One bottle opened was rustic and fatigued, and Pierre-Olivier Clouet opened a second that was much better. It has a gorgeous bouquet of ample red fruit, morels, black truffle, cigar box and hints of brown sugar, all very well defined and charming. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and approaching full maturity; brown spices, bay leaf and clove infuse the red berry fruit. At 30 years of age, I suspect this 1989 will not improve further, but its robustness suggests that any decline will be graceful. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the château."
(Antonio Galloni, vinous.com)
"1998 Cheval Blanc is an outstanding vintage in a classic style typical of the château. It is not only rich and powerful, but also remarkably well-balanced. The intense deep ruby-red colour features brilliant highlights and a browning rim. The nose is rich and concentrated with polished, well-focused ripe black fruit aromas as well as notes of tobacco, truffle, and cedar. The bouquet also features empyreumatic, roasted notes of cocoa and almonds that are balanced by very fresh eucalyptus and bay leaf nuances. The wine is round and rich on the palate, with very pure, well-defined flavours. The tasty aftertaste is impressively complex and elegant. In addition, the fine, rich tannic texture shows no aggressiveness whatsoever. The aftertaste is tremendously long, with an ethereal finish that goes on and on – the sign of a wine of distinction. The 1998 vintage is pure, remarkably focused, and complex, with a rich, powerful, perfectly balanced flavour. It needs to be kept a long time to reveal its full potential."
(Chateau Cheval Blanc)
Chateau Cheval Blanc ist ein St. Emilion von majestätischer Gelassenheit, der niemals protzig, niemals extrem ist - vielmehr befinden sich all seine Komponenten (Frucht, Fett, seidige Textur, samtige Tannine, schier endloser Abgang, prächtige Aromen) stets in vollkommener Ausgewogenheit."
(Robert M. Parker, Jr.)
1er cru classé A, St. Emilion
Chateau Cheval Blanc ist ein kräftiger Wein, der aber zugleich von fein-aromatischer und eleganter Struktur ist. Die würzigen Noten, die vom Ausbau in erstklassigen Eichenholzfässern stammen, harmonieren ausgezeichnet mit den imposanten Fruchtaromen. Sehr reife Nase mit likörartigen Edelkirschnuancen. Intensiver, opulenter Abgang. Ein Wein, den man sich hinlegen sollte, denn wahre Größe braucht Zeit!