The 2012 Cheval Blanc has a lovely bouquet with raspberry coulis, hints of marmalade and just a touch of espresso, nicely detailed though not intense. The palate is medium-bodied with a strict entry. This is quite backward and tight, lightly spiced with a touch of sour cherry and cracked black pepper on the finish. This is a delicious, well-crafted Cheval Blanc. A second bottle demonstrates just a little more backbone and persistence. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 2 years ago
Forgotten bottle at my in laws. What a good surprise! Didn't know I had left it there 🤷🏻♂️.
This is again a very biaised review as this comes from a vineyard located 10 miles away from where I grew up. A blend of negrette and syrah.
There is a strong violet, blackberry, irony, pepper nose. Very inviting. The palate is very much defined by its acid backbone and its vibrant blackberry and cherry note. There is a huge tannins wall in the middle here, drying up everything in its wake but making way to a fruity, peppery finish with a fruity twist. Huge wine for less than 10 euros — 3 years ago
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 4 months ago
Initially a bit reticent but after enough air 2014 comes around to show how special the Les Cras site is. It wafts from the glass with gorgeous floral and juicy dark fruit aromatics. The palate is straight up silk with an incredible purity to its fruit expression and underlying mineral backbone. It coats the palate with killer volume and fine grained tannins and gives way to its stunningly long saline and spice inflicted finish. — 2 years ago
Classic Tom Eddy - big wine full of dark fruit and blackberries on the nose. Tannins are there - giving a good backbone- but feels a bit astringent in the mid palate… a little less alcohol ( it’s a whopping 15.8%) would probably have served for a more balanced wine. — 3 years ago
A bit fatigued but still has that nice bosky fruit and strong backbone. The last bottle from the cellar. Perfect with sausage and mushroom pizza. — 8 months ago
The 1995 Lynch-Bages has a well-defined bouquet with intense blackberry, undergrowth and tobacco scents. Bold and lifted, this is a nose that wants to make an impression. The palate has more concentration and tannic backbone than others in this era. Dark berry fruit mixes with cola and black pepper, and tobacco comes through toward the finish with an austere, grippy finish. This would benefit from decanting for a couple of hours and is a bit of a bruiser, though not without charm. Tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 10 months ago
Cherry, hay, earth, plum somehow. Nice typical nose. The palate is well designed with a great acid backbone, a nice cherry note that shines all through the palate, soft, almost cushiony mouthfeel, a great build up in the rear with a tiny tannins effect that create a tiny distorsion in the mouthfeel before a fruit forward finish with a tiny bitter note that pops up. In a much better place than the last bottle. 2 more bottles out of the 6-box we bought in August last year — 2 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium deep ruby , medium wide garnet rim . Quite aromatic dark cassis , grafite , cedar , blackcurrant, touch of coffee and earth . On the palate good backbone , with cool dark fruits , excellent acidity , grafite , tobacco . Fine ripe tannins . Good length . Quite fresh and pretty . This is showing well though will continue to deliver over the next 10-15 years . — 6 days ago