Cheval Blanc - Saint-Emilion 2020

Vinous

98-98

par Neal Martin le 28/02/2025

The 2020 Cheval Blanc has such a pretty, floral bouquet that you will instantly be smitten: very well defined and extremely pure with an almost Burgundian allure. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins and a cashmere texture. There's not an edge to be found on the persistent and graceful finish. Captivating. Mesmerizing. How many more adjectives do you need? Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Alexandre Ma

98

par Alexandre Ma le 18/04/2023

Wine Advocate

96

par William Kelley le 06/04/2023

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

par James Molesworth le 31/03/2023

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

par Jeb Dunnuck le 30/03/2023

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

par Jeff Leve le 22/03/2023

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

par Alexandre Ma le 15/03/2023

Wines Critic

98

par Raffaele Vecchione le 10/03/2023

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

par Antonio Galloni le 24/02/2023

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

par Neal Martin le 15/02/2023

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, Inside Bordeaux

100

par Jane Anson le 01/12/2022

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

par Andreas Larsson le 06/07/2021

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

par Neal Martin le 25/06/2021

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.

Decanter.com

99

par Jane Anson le 25/05/2021

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

par Yohan Castaing le 11/05/2021

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

par Bernard Burtschy le 10/05/2021

Falstaff

95-97

par Peter Moser le 10/05/2021

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

par Bettane & Desseauve le 07/05/2021