Reviews & Scores
The 1983 Cheval Blanc, which incidentally was served from magnum, has consistently been one of the standout wines of the vintage. Here is one of the finest examples that I have encountered. Sure, its age can no longer be disguised thanks to its tawny-rimmed hue, but the aromatics burst full of red fruit, cigar box, beef stock and tobacco scents that immediately capture your senses. The palate is medium-bodied and very well balanced, underpinned by a keen line of acidity. There is so much freshness here after 30 years and yet it does not begrudge or disguise its age. ...there is still so much pleasure to be gained. Maintaining its savory core of fruit and meatiness, this remains a wonderful Cheval Blanc. (NM) - WA
WA94July 2016
The 1983 Cheval is a red that I have always appreciated. In fact, I may have scored it higher in the 1980s when I first tasted the two vintages, but that was a long time ago! The bottle at Island Tang showed beautiful aromas of licorice, spice, flowers and dried fruits such as prunes. It was still full-bodied with soft and fine tannins and ripe fruit. - JS
JS96June 2016
Along with Ausone, the ’83 Cheval Blanc has long been one of the greatest wines of this vintage and it is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The wine has gone through periods of glorious drinking, followed by much more closed cycles over the years, but it seems now at age thirty to have finally reached the start of its plateau of maturity and I would be very surprised to see it shut down ever again in its lifetime. Today, the deep, pure and vibrant nose wafts from the glass in a youthfully complex blend of mulberries, menthol, black cherries, a touch of chocolate, tobacco leaf, lovely soil tones and a nice touch of toasty new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very elegant on the attack, with a superb core of fruit, great focus and complexity, and a very long, balanced and modestly tannic finish. The tannins today have fallen away to the point where this wine is very enjoyable to drink, and yet I still have the sense that the wine is relatively adolescent in its stage of development and more fireworks will still be unveiled if one can exercise a bit more patience. This is a great vintage of Cheval Blanc! - JG
JG95September 2013
Very pale with brick rim – very rich, complete and glorious. Long and peacock’s tale on the finish. Very delicate – rather overwhelmed by the heavily spiced potstickers and matsutake mushroom emulsion served avec – shame because it’s still a very beautiful wine but it did not show its best with this strongly flavoured food. - JR
JR18.5October 2007