Chateau Cheval Blanc 2016

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"The 2016 Cheval Blanc is blended of 59.5% Merlot, 37.2% Cabernet Franc and 3.3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is incredibly youthful yet not so shy as some other 2016s at this stage, giving wonderfully intense scents of red currants, black cherries, wild blueberries and violets with nuances of star anise, cinnamon stick, rose hip tea, cigar box and wood smoke plus a touch of beef drippings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has jaw-dropping elegance and depth, offering up layer upon layer of fragrant red and black fruits plus an extraordinary array of mineral sparks, supported by a rock-solid grainy texture, finishing with epic persistence and an edifying perfume. This is a very different style from the rich, opulently hedonic 2015, yet this wonderfully fragrant, beautifully poised and intellectually compelling 2016 is equally extraordinary."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "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!"

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"Wet earth and sliced, fresh mushrooms. Menthol. Dark berries, such as blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied, dense and whole, but you don’t feel the tannins, even though it is so powerful and structured. Detailed and defined. Cashmere. Wonderful finish. Glorious young Cheval. Try after 2025, but so wonderful already."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"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."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, würzig, schwarzbeerige Frucht, zart nach Lakritze, dunkle Kirschen, feiner Edelholztouch, angenehme Kräuterwürze. Komplex, wirkt sehr engmaschig, dezente Extraktsüße, integrierte, tragende Tannine, schokoladiger Touch im Abgang, mineralisch, reife Herzkirschen im Finale, sicheres Reifepotenzial. Vin de Garde, der in fünfzehn bis zwanzig Jahren viel Trinkvergnügen bieten wird."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"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."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"Dichtes Granat, satt in der Mitte, mit feinem, violettem Schimmer am Rand. Das Bouquet gibt sich nur ganz langsam preis, fast scheu. Dann steigen doch kleine, konzentrierte schwarze Beeren, dunkle Edelhölzer, Irisblüten, etwas Malz und dahinter feinduftige Schattenmorellen auf. Nimmt zunehmend an Komplexität zu. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit stützendem, perfekt ausgereiftem Tannin, vielschichtig mit Graphitnoten, Lakritze, Wacholder sowie Wildkirschen und einem Hauch Rosmarin. Sehr komplex bis ins ganz langanhaltende, erhabene Finale. Eine elegante Cheval-Blanc- Delikatesse mit gewaltigem Potenzial!"

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"The grand vin 2016 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as 60% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up 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 displays stunning aromatic fireworks with notions 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."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Rich, smoky and with powerful fruit, this structured wine also has an impressive perfumed character. Spice, blackberry fruits and rich tannins give wonderful firmness that will allow the wine to age well. Drink this already beautiful wine from 2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"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."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"Smoke, cedar, plum and blackberry. Firmer tannins than the 2018, but with a floury texture that is temptingly close to drinkability now. Lovely acidic tension. Definitely has the lightness of touch of St-Émilion, with elegance as the watchword."