Ripe blackcurrant, tobacco, black pepper, and cedarwood bouquet with a wonderful earthy, iron-rich minerality.
Fine on the middle palate with a medium-long, smooth, and elegant finish.
Charming and enjoyable as of now.

Having tasted this for the second time in two years – also at Chateau La Gaffeliere, in 2003, when it was thoroughly closed – I am convinced that it is (still) a sleeping beauty. Just not ready for drinking yet, in my opinion!
A complex nose of cherry and smooth tobacco preceded a slightly closed and discrete palate with the same flavors, though the fruit was more pronounced. A cigar box finish but again not overly expressive. 

This wine looks surprisingly youthful for its age.
Oaky, ferrous nose with hints of fresh fruit and bourbon.
"Wobbly" palate due to acidic (unripe) fruit which rather limits the overall pleasure.

Coming soon

(55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc)
Deep crimson color.
Forward, relatively smoky, oaky bouquet with vanilla and delicious fresh fruit (raspberry).
Soft and velvety on the palate. Beautiful, silky tannin. Slight bitterness on the middle palate, but perfectly balanced aftertaste. Delicate, elegant structure.
1999 Cheval Blanc will be very enjoyable as of now and should age well over the next 10-15 years (2015).

Purple color.
Toasty oak dominates on the nose, but this is balanced by red fruit aromas. Lush, thick, and very sweet on the palate. Deep and long with well-integrated tannin.
I doubt this wine has the necessary potential to age for decades, but it is very enjoyable at the present time!

This wine, somewhat like the Figeac, was closed in comparison to the others, and this is no doubt due to its superior Cabernet component. Still, I found a minty freshness in the mouth with some oak notes that were pleasing – just not as exuberant as many of the other wines. Time in the glass however revealed a silky complexity that made this wine truly lovely, with a very long finish.
One participant also exuberantly noted “an espresso nose… and what an espresso!

Very deep, dark, ruby-red color.
Reticent nose that gradually reveals subtle floral hints with berry and cedarwood overtones after swirling in the glass.
Starts out very well-focused on the palate with beautiful, pure fruit, good texture, and excellent length – even though the tannin is slightly dry on the tail end.
This wine should be aged for a few more years to see if it can achieve a better balance.