1982 Château Cheval Blanc St. Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1982
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It is always all about the bottle at this age, and fortunately for us, this was a gorgeous bottle with layers of decadently-textured, silky plums, dark red pit fruits, tobacco leaf, and hints of cocoa on the palate. There is a uniqueness of texture, that is pure Cheval. The perfume was equally alluring with all of its dried flower, cigar wrapper. spice and red fruits. Fully mature, this is a superb example of what Cheval Blanc does best. Drink from 2023-2030.

It is always all about the bottle at this age, and fortunately for us, this was a gorgeous bottle with layers of decadently-textured, silky plums, dark red pit fruits, tobacco leaf, and hints of cocoa on the palate. There is a uniqueness of texture, that is pure Cheval. The perfume was equally alluring with all of its dried flower, cigar wrapper. spice and red fruits. Fully mature, this is a superb example of what Cheval Blanc does best. Drink from 2023-2030.

3,416 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, if not slightly past its prime, the wine offers a bit less fruit these days, focusing more on its secondary, cigar wrapper, herb, earth, truffle, spice and dried floral side. Soft, but with a hint of rusticity and herbs that now accompany the earthy red fruits.

Fully mature, if not slightly past its prime, the wine offers a bit less fruit these days, focusing more on its secondary, cigar wrapper, herb, earth, truffle, spice and dried floral side. Soft, but with a hint of rusticity and herbs that now accompany the earthy red fruits.

4,105 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, the opulent, sensuous, silky wine shows what it is all about with no effort or decanting. The truffle, flowers, herbs, cedar, plum, cherry and tobacco-infused nose is really something. But it is on the hedonistic palate that the wine really struts its stuff. I am not sure further aging is going to be helpful here. So if you have a bottle, drink up.

Fully mature, the opulent, sensuous, silky wine shows what it is all about with no effort or decanting. The truffle, flowers, herbs, cedar, plum, cherry and tobacco-infused nose is really something. But it is on the hedonistic palate that the wine really struts its stuff. I am not sure further aging is going to be helpful here. So if you have a bottle, drink up.

5,019 Views   Tasted
Texturally, the wine is soft, polished, elegant and sensuous, with an earthy, cherry, tobacco center. This is refined hedonism. Fully mature, there is no reason for further aging.

Texturally, the wine is soft, polished, elegant and sensuous, with an earthy, cherry, tobacco center. This is refined hedonism. Fully mature, there is no reason for further aging.

6,244 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, elegant, graceful, silky and refined, with polished, soft, sweet, dark red fruits, truffle, flowers, earth and tobacco, the wine truly feels great on your palate. The problem comes in with how the wine is aging. The wine has lost some of its exotic, opulent, flamboyant quality with time, and those traits were what made this really stand out.

Fully mature, elegant, graceful, silky and refined, with polished, soft, sweet, dark red fruits, truffle, flowers, earth and tobacco, the wine truly feels great on your palate. The problem comes in with how the wine is aging. The wine has lost some of its exotic, opulent, flamboyant quality with time, and those traits were what made this really stand out.

4,390 Views   Tasted
The wine has been on the slow, downhill slope for years and this bottle was no exception. With an advanced color for its age, the nose was more interesting than the palate. While silky, soft and smooth, there was a hint of dryness in the finish that reduced the level of enjoyment in the wine. Other bottles have been better, but as you know, after 20 years of age, there are only great bottles, there are no great wines.

The wine has been on the slow, downhill slope for years and this bottle was no exception. With an advanced color for its age, the nose was more interesting than the palate. While silky, soft and smooth, there was a hint of dryness in the finish that reduced the level of enjoyment in the wine. Other bottles have been better, but as you know, after 20 years of age, there are only great bottles, there are no great wines.

4,819 Views   Tasted
One of the best bottles of this beauty I've tasted in years. Sweet, luscious, opulent, velvet textured and aromatic. Fully mature, this is not a wine for long term aging, but it certainly delivers a lot of pleasure today if well stored.

One of the best bottles of this beauty I've tasted in years. Sweet, luscious, opulent, velvet textured and aromatic. Fully mature, this is not a wine for long term aging, but it certainly delivers a lot of pleasure today if well stored.

5,094 Views   Tasted
Very, very good, but too short for greatness. Still, the silky, sensuous, opulent, textures and complex aromatics make a real impression. This wine was better 5-10 years ago. If you have a bottle, drink it, as it's only going to fade with more time.

Very, very good, but too short for greatness. Still, the silky, sensuous, opulent, textures and complex aromatics make a real impression. This wine was better 5-10 years ago. If you have a bottle, drink it, as it's only going to fade with more time.

6,527 Views   Tasted
Even though the fruit was starting to fade, the coconut, plum, pepper, truffle, cocoa, tobacco leaf and spicy perfume got you going. Opulent, sensuous and plush in texture, the wine finishes with rich, silky, polished, exotic cherries. This was a better wine a decade ago and does not quite live up to its reputation.

Even though the fruit was starting to fade, the coconut, plum, pepper, truffle, cocoa, tobacco leaf and spicy perfume got you going. Opulent, sensuous and plush in texture, the wine finishes with rich, silky, polished, exotic cherries. This was a better wine a decade ago and does not quite live up to its reputation.

7,474 Views   Tasted
Coconut, cherry pipe tobacco, truffles, spice, old wood and wet forest floor aromas create the perfume. The fruit has faded since its glory days and finish is not as long or exotic as it used to be. It ends far too quickly. While this is still a great wine, for the money and the pleasure, 1983 Cheval Blanc is the better wine.

Coconut, cherry pipe tobacco, truffles, spice, old wood and wet forest floor aromas create the perfume. The fruit has faded since its glory days and finish is not as long or exotic as it used to be. It ends far too quickly. While this is still a great wine, for the money and the pleasure, 1983 Cheval Blanc is the better wine.

6,222 Views   Tasted
1982 Cheval Blanc is starting to fade. Coconut, chocolate, mint, black cherry, earth, spice and fresh, green leaf aromas create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet. But its lost some of its richness and voluptuous qualities that were on display a decade ago. Sell or drink now.

1982 Cheval Blanc is starting to fade. Coconut, chocolate, mint, black cherry, earth, spice and fresh, green leaf aromas create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet. But its lost some of its richness and voluptuous qualities that were on display a decade ago. Sell or drink now.

6,563 Views   Tasted
A beautiful bouquet of fresh picked flowers, spice, ripe black cherries, earth, truffle, tobacco, forest floor and smoke aromatics gets the wine noticed. The feminine, silky, refined, velvet textures keeps your attention. Not as concentrated as it used to be, plus the wine shows an advanced light color. While there is no hurry to drink it, bottles of 82 Cheval Blanc wine enjoyed 5-10 years ago seemed richer and more complex. The wine ends with a long, plum, truffle, spice, cassis and coffee.

A beautiful bouquet of fresh picked flowers, spice, ripe black cherries, earth, truffle, tobacco, forest floor and smoke aromatics gets the wine noticed. The feminine, silky, refined, velvet textures keeps your attention. Not as concentrated as it used to be, plus the wine shows an advanced light color. While there is no hurry to drink it, bottles of 82 Cheval Blanc wine enjoyed 5-10 years ago seemed richer and more complex. The wine ends with a long, plum, truffle, spice, cassis and coffee.

9,552 Views   Tasted
Coconut, truffle, flowers, plums, cassis, black cherry, chocolate, fresh herbs, Asian spice and espresso bean. Silky, soft and round, medium/full bodied and sexy in style, this Bordeaux wine is slightly past full maturity.

Coconut, truffle, flowers, plums, cassis, black cherry, chocolate, fresh herbs, Asian spice and espresso bean. Silky, soft and round, medium/full bodied and sexy in style, this Bordeaux wine is slightly past full maturity.

10,021 Views   Tasted
1982 Cheval Blanc can offer an intense, exotic, coconut tinged tasting experience. Other times, the wine can seem past its prime. This bottle was in the middle. Great aromatics, but not as sexy or decadent on the palate as I would have liked. This was a very good 82 Cheval, but it lacked the intense exotic qualities emanating from the best bottles. Thess days, a strong bottle of 83 Cheval might be more fun and interesting to taste as well.

1982 Cheval Blanc can offer an intense, exotic, coconut tinged tasting experience. Other times, the wine can seem past its prime. This bottle was in the middle. Great aromatics, but not as sexy or decadent on the palate as I would have liked. This was a very good 82 Cheval, but it lacked the intense exotic qualities emanating from the best bottles. Thess days, a strong bottle of 83 Cheval might be more fun and interesting to taste as well.

10,235 Views   Tasted
This bottle seemed mature. Coconut, red and black fruits with herbs thrilled your nose and senses. The sensuous mouth feel from the concentrated, velvety, ripe fruit was the star of the show. If you want to try a wine that defines opulence, this is a good place to start.

This bottle seemed mature. Coconut, red and black fruits with herbs thrilled your nose and senses. The sensuous mouth feel from the concentrated, velvety, ripe fruit was the star of the show. If you want to try a wine that defines opulence, this is a good place to start.

4,580 Views   Tasted
Red and black fruit, herbs, licorice, and an intoxicating note of chocolate covered, roasted coconut. The coconut aromatic was absolutely compelling and remained the entire evening. Does the coconut aroma come from the cooperage? On the palate, dense, concentrated, plush, rich, sexy, velvety fruit bathed your senses. Very deep and complex, with multiple layers of fruit that cascades over your palate. This is pure elegance.

Red and black fruit, herbs, licorice, and an intoxicating note of chocolate covered, roasted coconut. The coconut aromatic was absolutely compelling and remained the entire evening. Does the coconut aroma come from the cooperage? On the palate, dense, concentrated, plush, rich, sexy, velvety fruit bathed your senses. Very deep and complex, with multiple layers of fruit that cascades over your palate. This is pure elegance.

4,541 Views   Tasted
The color seemed too developed for its age and the aromatics were not as interesting as I, or the others remembered. Fully developed, decadent fruit, but because of the bottles condition, not as good as we had hoped.

The color seemed too developed for its age and the aromatics were not as interesting as I, or the others remembered. Fully developed, decadent fruit, but because of the bottles condition, not as good as we had hoped.

4,443 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Cheval Blanc, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Cheval Blanc can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting, but the wine is much better wine, these days. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 2-4 hours, give or take.

This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Cheval Blanc is usually better with at least 12-15 years of bottle age.

Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Some of the best vintages take over 20 years before they are mature! Chateau Cheval Blanc offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-50 or more years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Cheval Blanc with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Cheval Blanc is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Cheval Blanc is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Cheval Blanc is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Le Petit Cheval Bordeaux Blanc, the white wine of Cheval Blanc

Starting with the 2015 vintage, Cheval Blanc started producing a dry, white Bordeaux wine called, "Le Petit Cheval Bordeaux Blanc". To avoid confusion with their second wine, Le Petit Cheval, on the label for the white wine the printing is in silver and the bottle will have a silver capsule. For the initial vintages, the wine was produced using 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

Starting with the 2018 vintage, the wine comes from a blend representing the vineyard plantings of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon planted on a 1.4-hectare parcel of vines. The grapes are planted in the vineyard located just across the road from Cheval Blanc in the vineyards previously used by La Tour du Pin.

As we mentioned earlier, the owners of Cheval Blanc purchased La Tour du Pin in 2006. The first vintages of white wine produced were not available for sale to the public. 2015 is the first commercial vintage.

To produce the wine, the grapes are entirely barreled fermented. There is no malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged in 3, large 400-liter oak barrels. The wine is going to be hard to find as not much is produced. The initial release will be about 400 cases and by 2020, the production should increase to an average of 1,250 cases.

Le Petit Cheval will be sold as a generic AOC white Bordeaux Blanc because AOC law does not allow white wine grapes in Saint Emilion. According to Pierre-Olivier Clouet, the Technical Director of Cheval Blanc who spearheaded the project, the wine reminds him in some ways of a great Sancerre from the Loire Valley.

Cheval Blanc also maintains an interest in the Mendoza region of Argentina where they produce the wine Cheval des Andes.

www.chateau-cheval-blanc.com