Robert Parker Wine Advocate

In time, the profound 2008 Cheval Blanc will rank alongside this estate's great successes of 2005, 2000, and 1998. A harvest that began at the end of September and concluded October 19 has produced a wine with the 1998's complexity and the power of the 2000. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 reveals an ethereal nose of subtle menthol intertwined with spring flowers, plums, black currants, and sweet cherries. The wine's seamlessness is enthralling, and, despite the late harvest as well as late malolactics, it is already displaying admirable complexity. This is a beautifully complete, full-bodied Cheval Blanc that dances across the palate with the finesse of a world-class ballerina. Analytically, there is plenty of tannin, but it is totally integrated. While the acids are slightly elevated, they are not noticeable. A tour de force! This wine should evolve for three decades or more.

James Suckling

I am really impressed with this. It is powerful and rich with so much blueberry, vanilla and spice on the nose and palate. It's full and very spicy, and fruit on the palate, but remains refined and subtle. Rich and polished tannins. This needs at least five years of bottle age to come around.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, fruity, gourmand, elegant and offers a slight richness / austerity, a small depthness, complexity as well as a beautiful intensity. It reveals notes of blackberry, cherry / sour cherry, red fruits and small notes of small wild black fruits associated with touches of ripe raspberry, cassis, licorice, blue fruits as well as slight / discreet toasted hints / almond, incense, an imperceptible touch of menthol and tonka bean in the background. The palate is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a nice minerality, a pretty acid frame, a slight suavity, precision as well as finesse. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy / fresh blackberry, juicy raspberry, ripe / juicy redcurrants associated with fine touches of cocoa / tonka bean, sweet spices and vanilla. Tannins are very slightly grainy and slightly firm. Good length and persistence. There are very discreet hint of undergrowth, mushroom and licorice on the persistence. A beautiful wine!

Wine Enthusiast