2016 Cheval Blanc
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Cheval Blanc has a beguiling bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar, a touch of iron rust and black truffle scents that gain vigour with aeration. Stunning delineation. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, very pliant and exerting a gentle grip. Sleek and focused, it gains depth towards the finish, with a dash of black pepper that just won’t disappear on the aftertaste. Heavenly. Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s 10 Year On tasting in London.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast
More reviews and scores
Still pretty restrained at this 10 year point, a reminder that 2016 even in St Emilion was old school in character and architecture, and here you get a fully sculpted Cheval Blanc. No question of its exceptional quality, delivering waves of cumin, incense, baking spice, iris, damson, raspberry leaf, with crayon and pumice stone texture drawing out taste and sapidity, and offering a mouthwatering finish. Extremely classy. 100% new oak for ageing.
Smoke, cedar, plum and blackberry. Firmer tannins than the 2018, but with a floury texture that is temptingly close to drinkability now. Lovely acidic tension. Definitely has the lightness of touch of St-Émilion, with elegance as the watchword. (RH)
Tasted blind. Deep crimson with a mineral nose. Polished and gorgeous and approachable almost now! Mild and neat. A relatively early developer for this vintage. Everything in its place. Long. (JR)
About the producer
Ch. Cheval Blanc is one the finest producers in Bordeaux. The Saint-Emilion estate’s Cabernet Franc-dominant wines are consistently among the top wines of the vintage.