Cheval Blanc - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Cheval Blanc wafts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, plums and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals, licorice, sweet spices and lilac. Full-bodied, broad and voluptuous, it's layered and fleshy, with a ripe core of fruit, sweet tannins and a long, expansive finish. While purists will gravitate toward the purer and more precise and perfumed 2019, the 2020 will appeal to readers who love the richest, most powerful expressions of Cheval Blanc.

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Very alluring, with a well of dark currant, fig and mulberry fruit flavors that have melded nicely, laced with black licorice, black tea and sweet tobacco notes. Well-defined, with a subtle flash of warm earth at the very end. Remarkably polished for the vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2029 through 2040.

Jeb DUNNUCK

100 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

The Grand Vin 2020 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised, as always, in 100% new French oak. As usual with Cheval Blanc, it's primarily about finesse and elegance, as well as complexity, and exhibits a deep purple hue as well as a kaleidoscopic bouquet of sweet red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy incense, loamy earth, and smoke tobacco. Absolutely flawless on the palate, it's full-bodied, has perfectly integrated oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc offers pleasure even today (needs lots of air) but warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will see its 40th birthday in fine form.

The Wine Cellar Insider

99 / 100

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

The bouquet of white, red, and purple flowers is made even better with the addition of Indian spices, red with black fruits, and truffles. However, as good as the nose is, it is on the palate, with its seemingly countless layers of cashmere textured fruits, refined, silky tannins, lift, and energy that steals the show. The wine gently caresses your palate seamlessly for over 60 seconds. This is a monumental Cheval Blanc that will age for decades, yet, it is sexy, and you will be able to enjoy it young. Drink from 2027-2065.

Alexandre Ma

98 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Wines Critic

98 /

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Vivacious, exuberant, dynamic and graceful showing an almost outlaw like liveliness. Notes of blue flowers blend perfectly with the delicate presence of magnolias, gardenias and linden. A lot of elderflower, acacia and a very subtle hint of vanilla describe the secondary scene. Full bodied, perfectly mature tannins and a deep, graceful finish that moves both material and flavours in a truly elegant manner. Better from 2027.

Vinous

99 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Cheval Blanc is eternal, seamless and exceptionally beautiful. All the elements are so well put together. Rose petal, blood orange, raspberry jam and cinnamon all take shape in the glass. Above all else, the 2020 Cheval Blanc is a wine of mind-blowing balance. Hints of mocha, raspberry jam, pomegranate and spice emerge with time in the glass. Cheval is quite simply one of the truly great wines of the vintage.

Vinous

97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Cheval Blanc contains a little more Merlot than other vintages, probably anomalous to other estates on the Right Bank. This was bottled at the beginning of July. It has almost clinical delineation on the nose. The 2020 is extremely well-focused, with subtle pressed iris and violet scents embroidered into the predominantly black fruit - quite serious in style. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, black fruit laced with blueberry, just a hint of brine and a composed, saline finish. It's a Cheval Blanc that will require a decade in bottle; not the most flamboyant in recent years, but it is intellectually satisfying without question.

Jane Anson

100 / 100

byJane Ansonthe12/1/2022

Intense, indelible, with layer upon layer of blueberry, raspberry, pomegranate, fennel, liqourice, crayon, espresso, crushed rocks, just so much character and poise. The driest year at Cheval Blanc since 1959, with 71% of production from the 39ha estate in this wine, technical director Pierre Olivier Clouet. The first year that will not be bottled with Premier Grand Cru Classé A on the label since the ranking began, following its withdrawal from the ranking. That makes an interesting footnote for collectors I would imagine, but makes zero difference to the brilliance of what is in the bottle.

TASTED

99 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Great purity and intensity, layers of fresh dark fruit, plum, cassis, detailed and layered with an extraordinary density and super refined tannins, good notion of freshness and a superbly long finish. Great already and tremendous potential.

Vinous

96-98 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/25/2021

The 2020 Cheval Blanc has a limpid deep people hue with noticeable tears in the glass. The bouquet demands several minutes to really open, delivering a payload of intense black cherry and blueberry fruit, pressed violet, a hint of licorice and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, and quite dense and weighty in the mouth, though not sinewy. Everything is finely proportioned and multilayered, leading to a mineral-driven finish. This is a very serious, long-term Cheval Blanc with a glorious future ahead, though it would be wise to cellar this for a decade if you can resist temptation.

La Revue du Vin de France

98-99 / 100

the6/7/2021

L’assemblage de 31 parcelles, les vieux cabernets francs, la veine d’argiles bleues, les graves construisent la grandeur de ce vin. Le nez où pointe une floralité très particulière au millésime est d’une précision millimétrée, sur un fruit séveux et frais qui fuse dans une finale où la fraîcheur réglissée du millésime passe au-dessus d’une profondeur exceptionnelle.

Le Figaro

98-100 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez d'abord en retenue, mais doté d'une vraie profondeur, avec une intensité hypnotisante de fruits noirs, des notes de poivre de cassis, qui s'étend vers quelque chose de plus délicat. En bouche, un horizon clair, avec une minéralité pleine de fraîcheur qui vous fait tutoyer les sommets — enneigés ! Intense et sapide, voilà un vin d'une infinie longueur, avec des tannins puissants, salins, et beaucoup d'aplomb.

Decanter.com

99 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Spice, anis, rosemary, blackcurrant leaf, redcurrants, mint and peonies - the full array of aromatics are on display here, and there is an enveloping aspect to the fruit once you get to the body of the wine. The tannins are compact and powerful but they are wrapped in plump raspberry and blackberry brambled fruits. The wine feels full of life, with acidity that pulls the palate forward from the first moment, before austerity kicks in on the finish and closes things in, suggesting an extremely long life ahead. Hard to argue with this. 71% of overall production. The driest year at Cheval Blanc for 50 years (since 1959). Could go up after tasting in bottle, a potential 100 points. 98-100.

Anthocyanes

98-100 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Très cabernet franc, le bouquet laisse apparaitre des notes de violette, d'épices, de réglisse et d'iris avec une pointe fruits noirs "al dente". Ce n'est toutefois pas un nez très charmeur. Ce dernier s'exprime dans la complexité et la qualité aromatique. En bouche, les tanins structurants sont tout simplement magnifiquement ciselés pour un bouche très précise, pure et cristalline avec un grain très fin. Très belle acidité dans la fraicheur pour une puissance qui s'exprime sur l'allonge. Une très belle bouteille de Cheval Blanc qui fera date. Très proche de son terroir, ce vin demande une garde importante même s'il pourra se déguster dans les prochaines années. Une esthétique très différente de ces dernières années mais une des plus remarquables et très proche de son millésime. Très singulier. Superbe.

Bernard Burtschy

99-100 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

95-97 / 100

the5/10/2021

Grafit, Veilchen, schwarze Johannisbeere, etwas Karamell, Mazerationstöne, Hefe. Grüntee. Handwerklich körniges Tannin, sehr viel Saftigkeit, ein ganz unaufdring- licher Bau, nicht zu cremig, nicht zu alkoholkräftig, fein eingegliederte Säure, alle Komponenten aus einem Guss, aromatisch noch eher mittelgewichtig, aber durch Delikatesse überzeugend. Ein Cheval mit eleganten Anlagen und einer im Abgang Spannung gewinnenden taktilen Mineralität.

My Bettane + Desseauve

98 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021