Château Cheval Blanc - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2004

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/15/2017

The 2004 Cheval Blanc has always been a wine that I felt needed patience on behalf of the wine lover, and so it is proving to be the case. Served blind I remarked upon a surprisingly Burgundy-like bouquet with ample red cherries, candied strawberry and redcurrant scents, the Merlot clearly more conspicuous than the Cabernet Franc, at least for now. The palate is medium-bodied with just a touch of coarseness on the entry. I appreciate the weight and balance here and belatedly the Cabernet Franc begins to express itself on the latter half, lending structure and grip, a dash of spice and a bit of sinew. Whilst it will never have the persistence of other vintages and regrettably continue to be dwarfed by the 2005, it remains a very fine Cheval Blanc from Pierre Lurton and his team. Tasted September 2016.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe8/1/2014

Tasted at Bordeaux Index annual 10-year on tasting from an ex-château bottle. The Cheval Blanc 2004 has a masculine, tertiary bouquet with dried herbs and leather infusing the red fruit profile, the Merlot more expressive than the Cabernet Franc at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a composed, generous opening, darker fruit than the nose suggest: mulberry and black plum infused with liquorice. It is well balanced and harmonious, daring to show more persistency than the Petrus '04 tasted alongside. This is a classic Cheval Blanc that should drink well over the next 20 years. Tasted March 2014.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/3/2009

I had high hopes for this Cheval Blanc out of barrel, perhaps a return to form? I still think this is a very fine Saint Emilion although it has not quite fulfilled the promise it initially showed. A very deep ruby/garnet colour. The nose seems to be quite backward with the Cabernet Franc component in the driving seat, aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate and iron rust. Good definition. The palate displays firm tannins, a rather “edgy” Cheval Blanc, quite tight and bashful; minerally and hints of burnt toast on the surprisingly dry finish. I will be more parsimonious with my score, but something tells me that it could put on weight over the next 5-6 years. Drink 2015-2025+ Tasted November 2008. 92+

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe11/19/2007

Aufhellendes Granat, feiner Rand aussen. Offenes, rcht fülliges Bouquet, sanft kompottig, schwarze Kirschentöne, Schokonoten, harmonisch und würzig. Samtener Gaumen, sehr aromatisch, Lakritze, stützende Fülle, Reserven aufweisend, langes Rückaroma, noch 5 Jahre brauchend.

La Revue du Vin de France

18 / 20

the9/3/2007

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe7/2/2007

Eighty thousand bottles of 2004 Cheval Blanc were produced from a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. Subtle herb, menthol, cranberry, black currant, and licorice aromas emerge from this dark ruby/plum-colored wine. It is medium-bodied and elegant with plenty of sweet fruit, but not a lot of weight or intensity. The complexity and nobility of Cheval Blanc’s gravelly terroir is apparent in this delicate, subtle St.-Emilion. Give it a few years to develop additional aromatics, and drink it over the following 12-15.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2007

Good bright ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of plum, flowers, licorice, menthol and Asian spices. Suave on entry, then dry and tight in the middle; extremely backward and shut down. Most impressive now for its finesse of texture. But today there's little sign of the fleshiness the wine showed in the spring after the harvest. Lock this one away for a while and forget about it. This vintage has more cab franc than merlot. 90 (+?)

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2007

Intense aromas of tar, blackberry and wet earth, with just a hint of tobacco and flowers. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Extracted, yet turns caressing and velvety in texture. Broad-shouldered and muscular for this estate. This is better than the 2000. Best after 2012. 3,500 cases made.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2006

The 2004 Cheval Blanc displays a dark plum/ruby color in addition to a perfumed sweet nose of cranberries, cherries, incense, dried herbs, espresso, and mocha. Elegant, medium-bodied, layered, and significantly richer than its weight suggests, this defined, perfumed, stylish wine should at its peak between 2008-2019. It is an outstanding, but hardly inspired effort.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2005

This may be the finest Cheval Blanc since the monumental 2000. Only 50% of the crop made it into the final blend (55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot). Cheval has a tendency to come across as a bit light in its infancy, but the 2004 lacks neither stuffing nor intensity. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a classic Cheval perfume of menthol, red as well as black currants, smoke, oranges, and black tea. It possesses beautiful sweetness and purity, medium body, extraordinary elegance, and potential complexity. While not a blockbuster in the style of the 2000 and 1998, it is a precise, fragrant, potentially top-flight effort as well as one of the finest wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

TAST

19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/28/2005

Une des réussites les plus accomplies du millésime : raffinement aromatique sensationnel et tannins de soie, d'une irrésistible séduction et perfection formelle, absolument uniques dans ce secteur cette année. On retrouve les proportions cabernet-franc-merlot qui définissent le mieux le génie du terroir. Il n'égalera peut-être pas en densité 1998 mais il aura encore plus de pureté et de nuances aromatiques. Un coup de coeur évident !

Carnets de dégustation RVF

9 / 10

the4/22/2005

55% cabernet franc, 45% merlot, Issu de la moitié de la récolte ( dont un quart a été éliminé), le 2004 affiche une robe sombre assez profonde. Moyennement expressif, le nez exprime des arômes de fruits noirs et plus particulièrement de myrtille, et évolue superbement à l'aération. Souple en attaque, doté d'un joli milieu de bouche et de tanins très doux, il manque légèrement de fermeté. Joliment velouté, il réserve une bonne longueur et procure une rétro-olfaction fraîche sur la réglisse. Le tout donne un vin charmeur avec pour seul défaut un petit manque de profondeur.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/30/2005

Incredible richness of Cabernet Franc here, with blackberries and dark chocolate character. This is full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, but it's like a tightly knit ball of cashmere thread. The manager of the estate thinks it's better than his classic 2003. I think he may be right. There is 67 percent Cabernet Franc. Normally it's 50 percent Cabernet. That makes the difference.