Château Cheval Blanc 2009

It will be fascinating to follow the evolution of the 2009 Cheval Blanc versus the 2010 as well as the awesome 2005, 2000, 1998 and 1990. This famous estate’s vineyard is situated at the juncture of Pomerol and the sandy, gravelly soils of St.-Emilion, facing the two noble estates of l’Evangile and La Conseillante. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2009 Cheval Blanc tips the scales at just under 14% natural alcohol. Its dense blue/purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of incense, raspberries, cassis, sweet forest floor and a subtle hint of menthol. Opulent and full-bodied with low acidity but no sense of heaviness, this dense, unctuously textured, super-smooth, velvety, pure, profound Cheval Blanc is impossible to resist despite its youthfulness. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050+.

Dense, brooding and richly coated, with a well of steeped black currant, fig paste and roasted plum to draw on while the layers of charcoal, Kenya AA coffee and loam resolve themselves. This displays both breadth and depth, offering a great undercurrent of acidity to match its heft. Should be among the most long-lived wines of the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 7,330 cases made.

A profoundly generous wine with coffee grounds and patisserie notes revealing grilled oak that’s subtle but extremely pleasing. The quality of the tannins is exceptional – they are drawn out, elongated and shrouded in smoke. Layer upon layer of complexity unfurls in the mouth, getting better and better, with tons of juicy black fruit. The liquorice is black and tight on the perfectly balanced finish right now, with sprinkles of star anise and a gentle lift of fresh mint. Give it a good few years before opening.

Super-spicy, this is an extremely elegant 2009 with enormous concentration and finesse. The complex finish lights up the sky and you wonder how this spectacular ripeness could have been more perfectly expressed. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

The 2009 Cheval Blanc has a rambunctious nose with copious red fruit, meat juices, sage and crushed stone aromas, ineffably complex. This is so refined, constantly mutating in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, saturated tannin. There is a mixture of red and black fruit, hints of cassis, cardamom and allspice. Immense depth and grip towards the finish expresses ripe Cabernet Franc. This is an outstanding 2009 destined for long-term ageing. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

What a wine! The nose is enough to win over any wine lover with its display of flowers, cocoa, dark red and black fruits, earth, and spices. But, as good as the perfume is, it is on the seamless palate with its opulent, exotic display of silk and velvet textures that provides the perfect backdrop for more than 60 seconds of perfectly ripe fruits expressing a sense of purity, elegance and yes, sex appeal. Still young, this is a future legend. Drink from 2023–2050.

Black cherries, dark berry confit, imparting opulent Merlot fruit, fine savoury notes, orange zest. Complex, deep, dark berry fruit, vivid tannins, mineral, fresh acidity, bitter chocolate aftertaste, full of finesse.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet rim. Nutty bouquet with notes of fig, dates, chocolate, noble Darjeeling tea, malt, herbal nuances; warm but not hot, growing increasingly sweet with air. Sublime palate, everything soft and silky, fairly opulent, caramel notes, again a heady herbal aromatic profile and a hint of Far Eastern spices. From the nose, this will one day be a kind of La Tâche from Saint-Émilion. On the palate, it will be one of the most beautiful Chevals ever. Comparable to what? A 1990 in a more focused, concentrated shape? A 1998 for its richness but with even more finesse? In terms of drive, a 2005 with a bit more inside? In any case, you’ll likely have to pay (almost?) a third for each of those mentioned vintages. (20/20). 21: Nearly black at the center, ruby at the rim. Sweet, subtle bouquet, prunes, dark caramel, black currant, rock candy and fine woods. On the palate, full thanks to the Merlot and textured thanks to the Cabernet Franc. An imposing Cheval beauty that still calls for a lot of patience. (20/20)

Silky, creamy, dense bouquet with blueberries, currants, light tobacco, pralines, Damassine plums. Concentrated, multi-layered, creamy palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, a delicately opulent structure, powerful sweet aromatics, and a long, dense, full finish. 19/20 drink - 2040

So good, it has been the benchmark Cheval Blanc for the past 15 years, and continues to deliver just exceptional quality. Lean in to the poised, confident ruby red fruits, pomegranate, loganberry, cassis, studded with cloves, turmeric, cappuccino and violet flowers, with an undertone of pulsing minerality. 50% new oak for ageing. Tasted alongside the rest of the lineup, and a reminder that in St Emilion when many estates were making winemaking choices led by the market, the best were focused on the voice of their own vineyard. This will age from here for decades, but it is already a pleasure to drink.

A blend of 56% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 Cheval Blanc has a deep garnet-brick color. It needs a lot of shaking to wake this sleeping giant, then it roars into life with powerful crème de cassis, blackberry coulis, and fruitcake scents, leading to touches of sandalwood and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate is laden with densely packed black fruits, intertwined with mineral and exotic spice accents, supported by super-plush tannins, and finishing with epic length. Stunning!

The fruit and floral accents reveal hints of fresh fig, cherry and raspberry, along with noble violet reminiscent of great Pomerols. Very joyful and complete in its definition, it leaves a heady trail, showcasing a velvety texture as beguiling as its shimmering aromatics.

A fine production, with 65% Grand Vin and a blend that gives a prominent role to Merlot (60%) and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very complex, with rich aromatics, the palate is suave and graceful, with more supple tannins, without the austere, monastic profile of certain vintages of the estate in their early youth. Grape quality is improving; the engine is back in motion at Cheval Blanc.

The 2009 produced a wine with great volume, breadth and complexity, a subtle menthol note and ultra-fine tannins. One of the great vintages that will go down in legend.

What energy in this wine! The bouquet shows a sense of blossoming through nuances of truffle, blackcurrant and licorice. This 2009 has so much charm, but also muscle, substance, and a clear ability to age in the cellar… in fact, it should be kept waiting!

Intense color. A very aromatic, fruity nose, riper than the 2010 and at the same time a bit simpler. On the palate, however, it shines with irresistible smoothness, everything gliding along both rich and broad, before finishing very long, complex, and bursting with flavor. It’s superb.

The 2009 Château Cheval Blanc continues to just blow me away every time I'm lucky enough to taste a bottle. It has that rare mix of elegance and power that can be hard to describe. Offering a massive bouquet of black cherry liqueur, flowery incense, crème de cassis, toasted spices, and forest floor, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a magical, seamless texture, and a great, great finish. Its tannins and structure are just now starting to emerge from under ample baby fat, but it still has incredible opulence and richness as well as flawless balance. Enjoy this masterpiece any time over the coming 20-30 years.

96-98 Barrel sample. An impressive wine, a true return to form for Cheval Blanc. The fruit is enormous, packed with sweet black berry juice, and with a brilliant freshness. There is a lovely smoky character, topped by ripe figs.