Ratings & Tasting Notes:
100 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 06/2015
The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. (RP)
100 points The Wine Independent
Review Date: 09/2023
A blend of 51% Merlot and 49% Cabernet Franc, the 2005 Cheval Blanc has a deep garnet color. The nose is still so incredibly youthful, soaring out of the glass with notes of juicy black plums, Morello cherries, mulberries, and fragrant soil, plus nuances of rose oil, spearmint, and pencil shavings. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut and energetic, delivering a firm backbone of exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and great tension, finishing long and shimmery. (LPB)
100 points Vinous
Review Date: 04/2021
The 2005 Cheval Blanc has been nothing less than magical on two separate occasions. A wine of breathtaking nuance and sophistication, the 2005 Cheval dazzles right out of the gate. With a few hours of aeration the aromatics blossom and the wine is explosive in every dimension. Espresso, rose petal, mint, blood orange and incense all open as the 2005 shows off its magnificence and pedigree. Bright saline underpinnings convey energy, tension and brilliance. Cheval Blanc is perhaps not as immediately seductive as some of the other top 2005s, but its all there. In spades. (AG)
100 points Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 04/2024
An absolute legend of a wine, the 2005 Château Cheval Blanc is up there with the greatest wines ever made. Based on 51% Merlot and 49% Cabernet Franc raised all in new oak, this stunning effort clocks in as 13.9% alcohol and a pH of 3.6. Deep ruby hued with no bricking and barely any lighting at the rim, it has that classic Cheval Blanc complexity with incredible cassis and darker currant like fruits as well as smoky, truffly earth, spice, and cedar pencil nuances. Full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and yet flawlessly balanced and weightless, it still has substantial tannins yet they’re perfectly ripe and flawlessly integrated. It’s as good a wine as I’ve ever tasted. Drink bottles any time over the coming 20-30 years.
Cult Wines International Notes:
Chateau Cheval Blanc is a premier estate in Saint-Emilion with a lineage of viticulture dating back to the 14th century, though its modern rise began in 1832 when Jean-Jacques Ducasse purchased land from Chateau Figeac. Under the stewardship of the Laussac-Fourcaud family for over 150 years, the estate established its unique identity by planting an atypical equal blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc on its rare gravel and clay soils. This distinctive terroir allowed the winery to earn the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classe A in 1954. In 1998, the property was acquired by Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frere, who have maintained its prestige through meticulous vineyard management.
The 2005 growing season is remembered as near-perfect, characterized by an exceptionally dry but not excessively hot climate. A cool spring was followed by a warm, sun-drenched summer with vital temperature shifts between day and night that preserved aromatic freshness. Minimal rainfall from May through September stressed the vines just enough to produce small, concentrated berries with thick skins and high tannin levels. Ideal harvest conditions in late September allowed for the picking of perfectly ripe grapes, resulting in a balanced blend of 50 percent Merlot and 50 percent Cabernet Franc. The vintage is celebrated for its power, precision, and silky texture, standing as a benchmark expression of the estate’s historic terroir and the remarkable consistency of the 2005 season.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
