Delectable Wine

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9.6

When I tasted the 2018 Cheval Blanc from barrel, I felt that it deserved a very good score, though not one that implied potential perfection. The bottle was tasted upon opening, but I only began to pen my tasting note after 3–4 hours’ decanting. I still find the bouquet more open than many recent vintages, the ripe brambly red fruit intermingling with clove, sage and light graphite notes originating from the Cabernet components (46% of the final blend). It is a really seductive bouquet, though not as complex or as nuanced as, say, the astonishing 2016 or the impressive 2015. The palate is medium-bodied with refined tannins. A harmonious and elegant Cheval Blanc that has retained the linearity I remarked upon in barrel. So it is not a flamboyant Cheval Blanc like the Cabernet-dominated 2017, but it is a far better wine thanks to the Merlot imparting flesh and rondeur. The finish is extremely precise but never powerful, almost Burgundy-like in weight, with a lightly spiced aftertaste. As the hours pass in the decanter, it gains depth and a little more precision on the finish. This does not possess the otherworldly profundity to equal legends such as the 1934, 1964 or 2016; it is simply a wonderful Cheval Blanc to sit back and savor as a Saint-Émilion par excellence. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Bouquet of strawberries and rhubarb, fig jam, herbal notes, saddle leather, moderate acidity, cedar box. Lovely. — 7 years ago

with Deked1

Jack Tan

9.8

Just beautiful. Long smooth finish. Bouquet was complex yet distinct. Paired with a tomahawk with the bestest of friends. La dolce vita! — 7 years ago

Sara

10

Great! Floral, and just dry enough. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Bowen

9.7

Blueberry and spice bouquet. Rich and smooth palate. A great wine for a special occasion. Happy anniversary to us! Thanks Molly! — 9 years ago

Traci Onders

9.3

Big black fruit, great bouquet, dry. — 10 years ago

Linda

9.2

Minimal bouquet. Smooth eminently drinkable light red — 10 years ago

Karen Fricke

10

Light dry crisp smooth lovely! — 10 years ago

Bryan Flewelling

8.9

All kinds of delicious dark fruit...juicy and baked blueberry. For the $ it's a knockout.--2010 vintage — 11 years ago

Edmond Ng

9.9

Beautiful bouquet. Smell of roast meat. — 12 years ago

Max Waldron

9.0

With carignan- jammy and delicious but not obvious — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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10

The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Ekasit Poositranusorn

9.5

Deep & bright ruby color and is blossomed by the aromas of black fruits, oak, and mild flower bouquet on the nose. Medium-to-full-bodied together with complex flavors of black & red fruits like ripe blackberry, cherry, espresso, hint of minerality, and licorice on the palate. Very elegant mouthfeel, ripe & smooth tannins, and long savoury finish. Very good balance with sexy acidity. Delicious and sensational! — 7 years ago

Chris Haines

9.2

Decanted 2.5+ hours. Dark ruby in color with a great floral and black fruit jam bouquet. Very light and delicate on the palate for a Cabernet especially when compared with the Alexander. Smooth finish with well integrated tannins. — 8 years ago

E & K G

9.3

First bottle of this beauty. It’s everything you want from an Italian wine. Lovely complex bouquet to start and with the same to match on the palate. What a treat! #wheninparis — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

As good as this is tonight, it's a bit of a shame to drink it. It's beautiful, ripe, rich but the tannins still need some work. This wine will be amazing in 15-20 years. Dry blackberries, dark cherries, dark cherry liqueur, black plum skin, cooked strawberries, dark coco, minerals are so fine & elegant, suede leather, dry dark earth, decayed floral bouquet, black licorice anise, good acidity and a round plum dry finish. — 9 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.5

Garnet core fading to tawny rim. Strong bouquet of leather, coffee, and vanilla. Dried red fruit and oak on the palate with long, lovely finish. An outstanding vintage. — 10 years ago

with Kelly

Peterjmaes

9.0

Excellent. Even better the second day. A lot of grip but the tannins are well integrated. — 11 years ago

alexia Kwan

9.0

Intense bouquet. Complex. Medium to full bodied with a well rounded, smooth finish. Very yummy even on its own ! — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

2008 very light color cigar box spice fresh earth coffee very pretty and classic bouquet. Fresh and lively on the tongue with a spicy finish tangy red currant berry fruit fonish40 very good + 2009 herb fresh loam peppery spice and a good hand of red currant berry fruit toffee coffee very fresh nice core of red currant berry fruit zesty spice coffee and herbs long finish very elegant wine finish 50 most excellent 2010 ripe currant berry fruit toasty oak spice very youthful a bit musty pnthepalate with good grip with firm tannins and along finish classic pitching contessw finish 50+ most excellent — 13 years ago

Eric

9.5

Rich, lush, and ripe. No game or pepper. — 5 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.4

🏅 Rating 94+/100 (4,45⭐)

This is my 3rd and the last bottle over the past year. It definitely sits at its plateau now and fully awake. Difficult to say when the drinking window will close down. ⁣
⁣
Lots of energy and precision. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant. Perfumed black currant jam with leaves. Complex tertiary aromas make a beautiful bouquet. Balance of tannins, fruits and acidity at its perfection. Tannins have soften but not yet faded away.⁣
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Undoubted 2nd Growth quality. — 6 years ago

Max Reichwage

9.2

39 years old, tertiary town, mushrooms, wax, lots of bottle bouquet, good with dessert! — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The 2014 Angélus is now really beginning to blossom. It has an outstanding bouquet with plush but delineated black cherry and cassis fruit, crushed violet and just a hint of pencil lead. There is wonderful focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with tightly knit black fruit, graphite and spice. There is weight and presence, but it is effortlessly counterbalanced by the freshness and acidity, whilst the finish if extraordinarily long. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago

Joseph Locke

9.0

Mineral tasting. Good bouquet. Lacks vibrant fruit flavor — 9 years ago

Knox Knox

9.1

This is definitely a great bottle. High alcohol but once it opens up the bouquet is marvelous; Vanilla, baking spices, fresh berries and cream. All upfront taste... bright fruit, berries, orange notes, red apple skin, medium-high tannins but all upfront clean finish, surprisingly light body. I would recommend this wine and would be an easy seller with a decent price point. — 9 years ago

Daron Watson

9.5

from Forts you get here a much broader and intricate bouquet — 10 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.5

V08. Delicious! Eucalyptus and violet bouquet. Rich, deep jammy blackberry and currant fruit with a slightly talcy finish . — 10 years ago

e

9.5

Classy, complex and sophisticated - both in bouquet and on palate — 11 years ago

Garrett Smith

Sommelier Restaurant DANIEL

9.7

Stunning immediately. Just increased in bouquet over two hours. C'est parfait — 11 years ago