2025, Château Cheval Blanc, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru Classé 'A'

2025 is 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cheval Blanc is one of the great names of Bordeaux and the most famous château in Saint Emilion.

The 2025 Château Cheval Blanc stands out once again as among the finest wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of blood orange and iris, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannins and a long, vibrant, violet-inflected finish. With its striking aromas, intensity of flavour and resolutely classical proportions, the 2025 gives every indication of being one of the great Cheval Blancs of the decade. 98-100 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Perfumed, with aromas of flowers, bramble and wild berries. Medium-bodied with tight, fine tannins that run forever on the palate. Hints of cedar, mushrooms and bark. Crunchy at the end. Just a hint of fancy bitterness and chocolate. Transparent and complete. 97-98 James Suckling

The 2025 Cheval Blanc is seamless and textured. A wine of mystery and seduction, the 2025 dazzles. Time in the glass brings out the wine's tension and energy. Sage, mint, lavender, cloves and cool, blue-toned fruit all build in the glass. In many vintages Cheval Blanc can be exuberant, but the 2025 is more of an intellectual wine that will require years in bottle to truly show everything it has to offer. 2035-2075. 96-99 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The 2025 Cheval Blanc nose is more immediate than some of its neighbours, a mixture of blackcurrant, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry, very expressive, underneath which lie tobacco and graphite scents. It is open, nothing hidden here. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid red berry fruit, just a touch of black pepper, a more reserved and structured Cheval Blanc than usual. Just be patient. This will need time. Drinking Window 2033 - 2055 95-97 Neal Martin, Vinous.

Of all the wines I tasted in the 2025 En Primeur season, this is the one that I have thought about the most. The lowest ever yield at 15hl/ha yield, close to 1961 in terms of volume.  Visually beautiful, deep plum colour, intense, slate, graphite, this has a construction that is clear, muscle, sinew, carved tannins, going long on campfire, chamomile, bitter chocolate, incense, anise, cassis, mint leaf, eucalyptus, crushed rocks, savoury broth. I have not seen a young Cheval with this kind of construction. Stunning and impressive. Pierre Olivier Clouet director. 2032-2050. 96 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.