2015 Chateau Cheval-Blanc - St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe A

Falstaff Magazin - (97-99)pts - PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Edelschokolade, exotische Gewürznuancen, facettenreich und mineralisch. Kraftvoll, reife Herzkirschen, stoffige, zugleich seidige Tannine, feine Struktur, besitzt eine große Energie und Länge, ungemein vielschichtig, bleibt minutenlang haften, großes Reifepotenzial. Auf den Zweitwein Petit Cheval wurde in diesem Jahr zur Gänze verzichtet.* - 05/2016

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 100pts - LPB: *As many readers may know, 2015 was the first year since 1988 that Cheval Blanc did not produce its second wine, Petit Cheval. This said, parts of two of the Cheval Blanc blocks were not used at all—Plot 17A and the north part of Plot 10—which had problems with water availability during the dry spell, and the fruit was sold for bulk. Therefore, this vintage of the Grand Vin equates to roughly 90% of the total production, making it one of the most complete expressions of Cheval Blanc ever produced. Composed of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cheval Blanc slowly opens up to reveal plum preserves, black forest cake, blackberry pie and pronounced licorice notes with suggestions of cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, dried Provence herbs and lavender plus wafts of iron ore and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and densely packed with incredible layers of black, red and blue fruits, it completely fills the palate with energy and expression, framed by very ripe, wonderfully velvety tannins and a racy line of acid, finishing with incredible length and poise. At once achingly graceful and captivatingly cerebral, this is a legendary vintage for this great estate.* -02/2018

Vinum Magazin – 19,5/20pts: *Meisterlich gekelterter Wein von immenser Finesse, Subtilität und besonderer Spannung, die Dichte und Tiefe lotet man erst auf den zweiten Schluck aus, der die Kehle runter rinnt, eh man sich's versieht. Der schönste Cheval Blanc aller Zeiten.*

Weinwisser - 19/20pts - RG: *55 % Merlot, 45 % Cabernet Franc. Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Das Bouquet ist noch sehr zurückhaltend und zeigt viele dunkle Beeren, Edelhölzer, Jasmintee, mitteldunkles Malz und besonders viele, reife Pflaumen. Im Gaumen mit viel Souplesse beginnend, cremige Tannine, wirkt nicht besonders schwer und setzt voll auf Eleganz. Im Finale Kräuter, Lakritze und wieder herrlich süsse Malznoten. Ein erhabener Cheval-Blanc, völlig klar ausgerichtet, der ohne grosse Kapriolen sehr alt werden kann. P.S. Es gibt heuer keinen Zweitwein (Le Petit Cheval). Es habe praktisch keine schlechten Chargen gegeben, alles sei auf Topniveau gewesen.*

JancisRobinson.com - 18.5+/20pts - JR: *55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc. 34 days of picking, 3 September - 6 October! Historic long vintage. No Petit Cheval, so 90% of the crop went into this wine. Very sweet almost balsam nose. Very distinctive! Really fine with lovely tannins. Lots of ripe fruit and masses of tannin as well as ripeness. The alcohol is only just moderate enough. Very dramatic without being at all exaggerated. Some red pepper powder notes.* - 04/2016

JamesSuckling.com - 99pts - JS: *Phenomenal aromas of cherries, flowers, blackberries and sandalwood. Pure fruit. Full-bodied, dense and polished with incredible tannin quality like the finest, densest silk ball. In perfect proportions. Compact. Seamless and endless. Gorgeous to taste now but give it six or seven years to understand it better.* - 02/2018

Vinous.com - 99pts - AG: *Totally seamless in the glass, with no beginning and no end, the 2015 Cheval Blanc is simply extraordinary. It's hard to describe the 2015, because all of its elements are so perfectly in place. Beautifully delineated aromatics make a strong opening statement. Vibrant and wonderfully nuanced on the palate, the wine exudes energy and vitality through to the persistent, silky finish. Many other 2015s speak with more assertiveness and volume, but Cheval Blanc is more understsated. In 2015, Cheval Blanc created quite a stir in announcing that a whopping 91% of their crop would be bottled as Grand Vin. There will be no Petit Cheval, while the rest of the wine was sold internally.* - 02/2018

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - (97-99)pts - NM: *The 2015 Cheval Blanc represents the entire vineyard this year, since there is no Le Petit Cheval (two plots that did not meet requirements were not included in any blend). A blend of 45% Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot, matured in 100% new oak, it has a very complex bouquet, subtle and tightly wound, very precise with dark berry fruit, hints of graphite, minerals and a hint of black pepper, perhaps a little spicier than recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with extraordinarily fine tannin. Beautifully balanced, perfectly controlled, this Cheval Blanc gently builds in the mouth, but remains strict and precise. The Cabernet Franc here is very expressive (though apparently the Merlot was showier prior to malolactic). This is an intellectual Cheval Blanc, thoroughly enjoyable, but it will need 10-12 years to really show its pedigree. A profound wine in the making, it will rank with the great wines of the past.* - 04/2016