Château Cheval-Blanc - St.-Emilion 2016 (750ml)
Price: $1060.00
| Producer | Château Cheval-Blanc |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St Emilion |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend White |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Sku | 1203054 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Advocate: 100 Points
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. ?We have a clay subsoil which is great for managing the dry spells? Cheval Blanc?s technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet informed me regarding the 2016 vintage. And this is certainly true of a significant portion of this relatively large estate (for the Right Bank) which is mainly composed of gravel or sand over clay while a smaller area is made up of deeper gravel. ?If we want to find the right balance between freshness of fruit and the dry spells we need some water? Clouet smiled matter-of-factly. One of the most significant developments here in recent years is the degree of precision viticulture that is now practiced at Cheval Blanc. For example the 39-hectare vineyard has been subdivided and is now farmed as 45 different plots based on grape variety age of vines and soil type. To accommodate these separately managed plots the new cellar contains 52 vats available in nine different sizes (20 hectoliters to 110 hectoliters) designed to correspond to the harvest from each plot which are vinified separately. This affords a whole other level of control when it comes to selection and ultimately ensuring consistency of quality. ?From 2016 we have a little Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend as we did historically but it disappeared when the plots were replanted? Clouet went on to tell me. ?We replanted 1.4 hectares in 2014 and will start using it in the blends looking to achieve about 5% eventually.? Published: Nov 30 2018
James Suckling: 98-99 Points
"This is very powerful Cheval with searing tannins and bright fruit acidity and mineral undertones. Full and muscular yet beautifully formed and polished. It?s all about the form to this. Better than 2015."
Vinous: 96-99 Points
"A wine of precision and extraordinary beauty the 2016 Cheval Blanc is also one of the highlights of the year. In the glass it is precise delicate and understated. Hints of espresso plum spice and wild cherry all develop in the glass but it is the wine's feel and vivid personality that stand out most. I expect the 2016 will put on weight during its aging both in barrel and later in bottle. It is an absolutely stunning wine in every way."
Wine Enthusiast: 97-99 Points
"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."
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