Bricky garnet and quite a broad bricky rim. Highly aromatic, fragrantly leafy and lightly floral but with a more savoury note of liquorice too. Tannins are still dense though fully rounded. This has a firm texture and an impressive savoury finish yet retains that fragrance right across the palate. Later: stronger liquorice notes but still so scented and elegant on the mid palate.

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Since its bottling, the 1989 has frequently been disappointing. In this tasting, it showed better than it has over the last several years. The 1989 is not a great effort for this chateau. The color is already revealing an amber edge, and the lead pencil, cedar, spicy, black fruit, and vanillin-scented nose is more reminiscent of a young Lafite, than the exotic style associated with Cheval Blanc in a hot, dry, ripe year. This medium weight, lightly tannic wine is very approachable. I have rated the 1989 Cheval Blanc consistently between 87 and 89, which is indicative of an excellent wine, but given the vintage terroir, this is not one of the star's of the 1989 vintage. It should continue to drink well for 10-15+ years, as there is moderate tannin in the wine's elegant framework, but readers should not expect any miracles.

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Good color. Tanned leather, earth and ripe fruit. Medium- to full-bodied, with herbs and berries. Slight dilution in the center palate.Outstanding, but not a classic Cheval.--Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.

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Consistent notes. Lovely nose; rich, concentrated fruit; tannins have softened and are fully integrated now; very classy & elegant wine; long complex finish; An excellent Bordeaux - needs a bit more grip to be truly great, but very, very good. Ready but will hold.