Château Cheval Blanc 2010

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep garnet in color and made of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot, the nose of the 2010 Cheval Blanc is a bit subdued to begin, measuredly opening out to reveal achingly provocative notions of molten chocolate, preserved Morello cherries, baked blackberries, boysenberries and blueberry compote with wafts of underbrush, cigar box, cumin seed and sandalwood. Full-bodied, the palate is a full-on atomic bomb waiting to go off, with very tightly coiled, slowly maturing black fruits eking out glimpses of a vast array of nuances. Still very youthful, it finishes with an incredibly persistent, jaw-dropping display of earth and mineral fireworks. I’d leave this one for another 5 years and drink it over the next 50.

James Suckling

The aromas here are crazy with flowers, mushroom, forest floor, and fruit. It seems like I am walking through a row of the vines in Cheval Blanc when I have my nose in the glass. It's full-bodied, with fabulous layers of ultra-fine tannins and milk chocolate, raspberries, and a phenomenal finish. Truly one of the greatest Chevals ever. Better than 2009. Try in 2020.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, racy, well-built and offers a beautiful precision, definition, deepness and intensity (in finesse). This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild cassis, small notes of grey pepper associated with small touches of graphite, ripe plum as well as very fine hints of fig, dry raspberry, liquorice a very discreet hint of camphor, pencil lead, an imperceptible hint of green cardamom and black tea. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, very discreetly tight and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a beautiful gourmandize/definition, a beautiful creamy/fresh touch as well as a very beautiful finesse of the grain, an aromatic purity and matter/density. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/quite ripe cassis, fleshy/pulpy Quetsche plum, small notes of crushed wild strawberry associated with hints of liquorice, caramelization, fig, cocoa, toasted hazelnut, sweet spices and a subtle hint of black olive. Tannins are elegant, silky and well-built. Good length. A very fine salinity and power on the finish/persistence. A beautiful marriage of extremes: concentration, matter and freshness. Tannins are full of finesse.

Wine Enthusiast

This is the finest Cheval Blanc for many years. It is, quite simply, magnificent. The wine shows the greatness of Cabernet Franc in the vintage, withof the variety in the blend. It is beautifully structured and perfumed, with velvety tannins, balanced acidity and swathes of black-currant and black-cherry fruits. It's well on course to becoming a legendary wine.

Falstaff