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Cheval Blanc 2003

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A

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Units Size Case size GBP Price: Quantities Buy
24 75cl Bottle Case 12 £4,200 per Case Cases [Add to shopping basket]
Tasting Notes

Pretty pale. Warm and lightly spicy nose. Is this the famous cashmere tannins vintage? The tannins are indeed well managed but there just doesn’t seem to be enough on the mid palate here. A bit jagged. Definitely need to wait for this to mellow but it doesn’t seem a triumph at this stage.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2012-2020 18 March 2008

Compared to the previous wine, there is a faint but pleasant stalky element to the nose, blackberry, a touch of liquorices and saddle-leather. The palate is rich and opulent with very ripe tannins, leading towards a meaty, savoury finish that just lacks a little grip but has a silky texture. The acidity seems just a little low to me. Drink 2010-2020.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2020 01 March 2008

Good full, deep red. Sexy aromas of mocha, tobacco and milk chocolate, with a suggestion of roasted nuts. Suave, fine-grained and sappy, with lovely vinosity in the context of this heatwave vintage. Redcurrant and milk chocolate flavors linger impressively on the finish, which shows noteworthy energy and length, with sweet tannins. With its high percentage of 55% cabernet franc, this was very closed at the beginning, notes Berrouet, but is now "more human." But today I don't find enough complexity to merit an even higher score.

Score: 91

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2006

The 2003 Cheval Blanc, a tiny production of 5,000 cases, was bottled early to protect its delicate style. It is a light to medium-bodied, superficial, but seductive effort offering notes of cherries, herbs, smoke, and new oak. It possesses moderate depth as well as exceptional elegance and finesse. I suspect enough of its noble terroir comes through to please this estate’s fans. Obviously, the vintage’s severe heat and drought did not benefit Cheval Blanc’s lighter, gravelly soils. This fragrant 2003 is best consumed over the next 12-14 years.

Score: 89

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2006-2020 30 April 2006

Blackberry, mineral and lightly toasted oak. Subtle and complex. Full-bodied, with wonderfully sweet fruit character and ultrarefined tannins. Goes on and on. Gorgeous and seductive. Best after 2009. 5,055 cases made.

Score: 96

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2009+ 31 March 2006