Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion 2006

97/100 - Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Cheval Blanc is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. It has the most floral bouquet of the four Serié A Grand Cru Classé: an explosion of crushed violets and potpourri, hints of leather and cigar box, the Cabernet Franc clearly lending this complexity and character. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels wonderfully structured and comes with an insistent grip that coats the mouth. This is backward and almost surly, but you have to stand back and admire the precision and arching structure on the mineral-rich finish. Top-dog Saint Emilion? That's for sure. Tasted January 2016. - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

18/20 - Mid dark ruby. Fully evolved nose with ye olde cashmere impression (copyright Pierre Lurton). Good freshness on palate entry and some lovely, round, enveloping, very Cheval fruit. Really sappy with some light tannins still there. Closer to Petrus than Ausone in style (which figures). Still a little chewy in fact. Ideally wait.  - Jancis Robinson MW

94/100 - A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 Chateau Cheval Blanc is a classic wine from this under-the-radar vintage and offers a perfumed, complex bouquet of red and black fruits, dried flowers, earth, spice box, and tobacco. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, elegant texture, ripe tannin and impressive length, it’s approachable today yet will keep for two decades or more. - Jeb Dunnuck