Château Cheval Blanc 2016

Well-structured, with floral freshness and notable length; an interesting white wine from the cellars of Cheval Blanc, produced on the sandy soils of Tour de Pin, which have belonged to the Premier Cru since 2006.

This has turned into a very dense wine, with waves of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry paste forming the core. Wrapped tightly in layers of tobacco and loam for now, while singed alder, incense, black tea and bergamot notes peek in here and there. The finish rumbles like thunder for now, with the swath of tannins, and there's just a twinge of drought-induced austerity. But there's acidity and drive too, and this will cruise in the cellar for some time. Best from 2025 through 2045.

A bold nose, structured and dense. The palate is so delicious, just so filling but not heavy. It has the crushed stone, chalk texture that is satisfying and the undercurrent of bright red fruit and cooling mint both acting at the same time. It's the base flavour and texture here that is so persistent, really driving the wine forward with motion and precision but with a deepness, really coming from the core of the wine. Forceful and persistent but graceful and so charming - not heavy or trying too hard. Perfectly balanced with excellent energy and grip. Excellent definition overall. A stunning wine.

On the nose, the restrained black fruit aromas are interwoven with a striking leather note and some spice. A very classical Bordeaux with a self-confidently dry personality. Long and ripe finish that feels more mature than most of the wines of this vintage. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

Tasted blind. Deep crimson with a mineral nose. Polished, gorgeous, and almost approachable already! Mild and neat. A relatively early developer for this vintage. Everything in its place. Long. (JR)

The 2016 Cheval Blanc is one of the most beguiling wines of the vintage. Constantly changing in the glass, the 2016 is at once wonderfully refined and yet also quite powerful. Dark cherry, espresso, spice, leather, tobacco, mint and lavender give the 2016 tremendous aromatic presence. On the palate, the 2016 is rich, exotic and persistent, with real staying power and captivating balance. Pierre Lurton, Pierre-Olivier Clouet and the team at Cheval Blanc turned out a masterpiece in 2016. Don't miss it.

Better from bottle than barrel, the wine is refined, elegant and fresh. Here is a wine of precision. The fruit is perfect in every way. There are no flaws, hard edges or even a hair out of place. It is going to need time in the cellar to soften, fill out and sex up. But this is going to hit that high level, you just need to be patient. Give it 12-15 years before opening a bottle. The wine was made using 59.5% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Franc and 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the first vintage in 10 years that any Cabernet Sauvignon was used in the blend.

Dark ruby with purple reflections and a bright, narrow rim. Savoury black-berry fruit on the nose with delicate liquorice, dark cherry, fine noble wood notes and a pleasant herbal character. Complex and very tightly meshed on the palate, with subtle sweetness, integrated supporting tannins and chocolate, finishing on ripe cherry and minerality. Excellent ageing potential, offering plenty of drinking pleasure over the next fifteen to twenty years.

Exotic nose with mint, sage, ripe dark fruit, pure cassis, gravel and black cherry, no noticeable oak—rather ripe and intense, yet with plenty of class and elegance. The palate is dense and concentrated, yet somewhat medium-bodied, all muscle and no fat. Incredible purity, texture, and length. Very harmonious and complete in a more open and accessible style, yet with classic elegance.

The grand vin 2016 Château Cheval Blanc checks in at 60% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in new barrels, and this is the first year a replanted block of Cabernet Sauvignon has made the top cuvée. Compared to the 2001 by Pierre Lurton, it shows stunning aromatic fireworks with notes of blackcurrants, forest floor, iron bar, graphite, and spice all soaring from the glass. It develops more floral nuances with time in the glass and, as always with this cuvée, it’s all about complexity and elegance. More medium to full-bodied, with beautiful tannins and perfect balance, it’s a decidedly classic, focused, elegant wine from this estate that will keep for 3–4 decades.

Dense garnet, concentrated at the core, with a fine violet shimmer at the rim. The bouquet reveals itself only very slowly, almost shyly. Then small, concentrated black berries, dark noble woods, iris blossoms, a hint of malt, and, in the background, delicately fragrant morello cherries begin to rise. Increasingly complex with air. On the powerful palate, supported by perfectly ripe, structuring tannins, multi-layered with notes of graphite, licorice, juniper, and wild cherries, plus a hint of rosemary. Very complex right through to the exceptionally long, elevated finish. An elegant Cheval-Blanc delicacy with immense potential!

Kunz barrel sample 17: (59.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc, 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 77% Grand Vin) Deep, elegant, finely structured, fresh, dense, complex bouquet; blueberries, black cherries, pralines, tobacco, currants. Concentrated, multi-layered, elegant, velvety palate with a finely creamy, tightly knit structure, plenty of fine tannins, diverse, concentrated aromatics, and a very long, dense, refined finish with plenty of lingering flavors.

(59.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc, 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 77% Grand Vin) Deep, elegant, delicate, fresh, dense and complex bouquet, blueberries, black cherries, pralines, tobacco, currants. Concentrated, multi-layered, elegant, velvety palate with a finely creamy, tightly interwoven structure, plenty of fine tannins, varied, concentrated aromatics, very long, dense, refined finish with plenty of lingering flavors. 19/20 2025 - 2045

The 2016 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 58% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock a powerful, profound nose of cassis, black raspberries, and stewed plums, followed by suggestions of Indian spices, fragrant soil, crushed rocks, and menthol, with a touch of violets. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright, energetic and gracefully styled, featuring youthful blackberry layers and loads of mineral and floral sparks, with a fine-grained, beautifully ripe texture, finishing long and earthy. Mind-blowing!

The wine has closed down; nevertheless, the body is dense while remaining tight, the final aromatic persistence is sumptuous, it will be very good in ten years, excellent in twenty, and will enter legend within thirty years.

It keeps a very aristocratic distance, as cool as it should be; 2016 is an earthy wine with notes of humus and flowers, ending on mint and cherry. Given time, it becomes more sanguine and opens up in depth, unfurling an aromatic range while never relinquishing its sobriety.

The nose is very complex, with an earthy side, notes of licorice and sweet spices that mingle with black berry fruit and plum. The palate is ultra-silky and fresh, the tannins are plentiful yet very fine. A great wine from a great vintage, which will only fully reveal its grandeur after several years of ageing.

Garnet red with violet highlights. What a bouquet! It’s complex, powerful and fine… pleasant freshness with menthol notes followed by red berries with a touch of blackcurrant. Finally, there’s also a mineral touch that completes the complexity on the nose. One could certainly add many more aromas, but it’s complex enough without piling on. The attack on the palate begins with great finesse. Cheval Blanc thus underscores its delicacy… then it plants its hooves and shows its power, but with great tact… more of a specialist in the dressage discipline… while deftly avoiding any potential obstacles that might block its path. Thus, it gains in power across the palate, taking care to regularly add a few elements, whether juiciness, breed, or subtle power. The tannins shine in the way they reveal their strength, their ability to take the lead while allowing the other components to express themselves. The fruit carves its path, supported by the acidity. The latter is broad enough and refined to stand shoulder to shoulder with the tannins. On the finish, all the elements come together to mark the end of the palate. It is subtle and long… very long indeed. Che grande cavallo! This is certainly the greatest Cheval Blanc since 1982… and it joins it in the estate’s Pantheon! Bravo to the whole team.

Dark, intense, deep, and beautiful color. A very distinctive nose: highly aromatic, refined, fruity, pure, complex, and noble. It is at once deep, vibrant, and truffle-scented. Soft on the attack, silky as it unfolds, melting and rich at mid-palate, the wine shows complexity, juiciness, nobility, savory character, and opulence. It evolves on fine tannins toward a great finish that thrills with the delicacy of its grain and the precision of its aromas. This is Cheval Blanc to the core!

97–99. Barrel Sample. Fruit and tannins have combined so harmoniously in this impressive, magnificent wine. The acidity shoots through to give considerable freshness, lifting the blackberry fruit. What makes the wine though are the tannins, which support the marvelous fruit. It will obviously age for many, many years.