2018 Cheval Blanc
By Chateau Cheval Blanc
2018 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
The highly-anticipated 2018 Cheval Blanc from Chateau Cheval Blanc has etched itself into the annals of Bordeaux with unerring grace. This extraordinary vintage emerges from a year that winemakers speak of in reverential tones, juxtaposing climatic drama with the resplendence of perfect harvest conditions. My long affair with this hallowed terroir provides a contextual backdrop to appreciate the nuances of such capricious years.
The Quintessence of 2018 Infused in Every Sip
The generous warmth of the Bordeaux summer exhibited both its might and mercy, distributing plenty of sunshine while tapering off just in time to avoid the overstress of the vineyards. The result: grapes achieving phenomenal ripeness with maintained acidity—a duality that the 2018 Cheval Blanc renders with captivating poise.
One encounters an ensemble of olfactory elegance upon introduction—the scent generously endowed with dark fruit cordials, interlaced with whispers of iris and violets. Here lies a noble frame impeccably adorned by polished tannins, a marker of deft winemaking and judicious use of new oak.
An Investment in Legacy and Excellence
Among fine wine aficionados and investors alike, Chateau Cheval Blanc's offerings are perennial envoys of wealth generation through liquid luxury. The 2018 iteration stands as an opulent exemplar: full-bodied yet delineated, potent yet never overbearing. Its balance is commendable, foretelling a robust ageing potential that could only serve to enhance its already considerable investment appeal.
Indeed, for enthusiasts seeking both a tasteful indulgence and an astute investment accession, the 2018 Cheval Blanc manifests as a paragon selection. One can anticipate the gradual unfurling of its complexity over forthcoming decades, each layer revealing another chapter in this storied vintage's tale. Such attributes confirm its merit as an essential addition to one’s portfolio of fine wines.
Market price (USD)
$5,700.00
12x75cl
Highest score
99
POP score
245.79
Scores and tasting notes
This is a wonderful, fairly classic Cheval Blanc, less exuberant than some of the wines that you're going to find in 2018. It's full of intense red and black berries, floral notes, and a ton of menthol, eucalyptus and liquorice which underpins the entire concentrated fruit expression. Silky tannins slowly layer up over the palate. It's full of focus and extremely elegant but it accelerates through the mid-palate, gathering strength as it goes. I love this wine in so many vintages, and they have done it again in 2018. There's no press wine, as ever, with 74% of the crop making it into this wine. 98-100 points.
Jane Anson - Decanter - April 2019
What strikes you is how aromatic this already is at this stage. Complex and decadent, showing lots of dark berries, smoked meat, wet earth, and dried leaves. Decadent. Full-bodied with very ripe and polished, velvety tannins. Great finish.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com - April 2019
The 2018 Cheval Blanc is dazzling. Creamy, supple and inviting, the 2018 is endowed with phenomenal balance. The tannins and overall structure are imposing, and yet the richness of the fruit and perfect ripeness of the tannin really stand out. In 2018, Cheval is a bit richer than is often the case, but that is not at all a bad thing. I am struck by how much freshness and energy the 2018 has. Hints of lavender, spice and licorice add shades of nuance, but it is the wine's overall sense of harmony that leaves the strongest impression. A precise counterpoint of fruit richness and finesse makes for a truly unforgettable Cheval Blanc.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - April 2019
Thirty-three plots contributed to this wine, out of the 43 in production. Five went into Petit Cheval and five into bulk. The 2018 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 3.75 pH and 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, the nose is more open at the core of the wine than the Le Petit Cheval, strutting out of the glass with bold, ripe black cherries, cassis, warm plums and raspberry preserves notes. With coaxing, a whole array of fragrant spice, floral and earth notes emerge, followed by candied violets, star anise, powdered cinnamon, iron ore, tapenade and truffles plus wafts of camphor and mocha. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm yet possesses a beautifully plush structure of velvety tannins wrapping round the densely packed, complex, fragrant fruit, with seamless freshness and a very long, layered finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 23rd April 2019
The 2018 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 3.75 pH and 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling and air to releases fragrant notes of stewed plums, juicy black cherries and ripe blackberries with underlying suggestions of damp soil, black truffles, rose oil and cardamom with wafts of underbrush and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with rich black fruits and loads of earthy accents, framed by super firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness to balance, finishing with amazing length and a beautiful array of floral and mineral sparks. Thirty-three plots contributed to this wine, out of the forty-three in production. Of the rest, five went into Petit Cheval and five into bulk. It will need a good 6-7 years at least to really start to strut its stuff and should cellar for a further 30 years or more.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2021