Cheval Blanc St-Emilion 2010

100 points Robert Parker: "The 2010 is one of the most impressive two-year-old Cheval Blancs I have tasted in 34 years in this profession. The final blend of 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Merlot has the tell-tale berry/floral nose with subtle hints of menthol, blueberry, raspberry and flowers in addition to some forest floor and a delicate touch of lead pencil shavings. The wine exhibits more structure and density than it did from barrel, and it was already remarkable then. The foresty/floral notes seem to linger and linger in this surprisingly full-bodied, powerful Cheval Blanc, yet it possesses a very healthy pH that should ensure enormous longevity. Dense purple in color, and a bigger, richer wine than usual, this is one Cheval Blanc that will probably need a decade of cellaring. I like the description from the estate’s administrator, Pierre Lurton, who said it tasted like “liquid cashmere,” a perfect expression, despite the wine’s structure and intensity. This is another 50-year wine from this amazingly structured, rich vintage. (2/27/13)"

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Showing even better than a bottle a few years ago, the 2010 Cheval Blanc is perfection in a glass and wine doesn’t get any better. As with the 2009, it’s a powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc, yet it has a slightly dark, cooler profile in its smoky black fruits, graphite, new leather, crushed rocks and cured meat aromas and flavors. Where the 2009 hits the palate with a sunny, sexy style, this stays more inward and masculine, yet it still has incredible sweetness of fruit, flawless integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity, a great mid-palate, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. It opens up with time in the glass and offers incredible pleasure today, with an exotic masculine yet sexy style, but feel free to enjoy this legendary wine any time over the coming 3-4 decades. Drink: 2019-2064. (6/14/19)"

100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2010 Cheval Blanc is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. Broody to begin, offering wafts of tar, chargrill, and smoked meats, after considerable swirling the nose reveals a fragrant perfume of Morello cherries and violets, with a touch of star anise. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is packed with tightly knit, impactful black fruits, framed by firm, yet plush, tannins and bags of freshness, finishing very long and earthy. Alcohol 14.9%. Drink: 2025-2070. (9/14/23)"

100 points James Suckling: "The aromas here are crazy with flowers, mushroom, forest floor, and fruit. It seems like I am walking through a row of the vines in Cheval Blanc when I have my nose in the glass. It's full-bodied, with fabulous layers of ultra-fine tannins and milk chocolate, raspberries, and a phenomenal finish. Truly one of the greatest Chevals ever. Better than 2009. Try in 2020. (11/13/13)"

100 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the edge. Fine nuances of savourinesss with a hint of coconut, pleasant fine wood spice, delicate hints of nougat, ripe cherries; a very complex, seductive bouquet. Juicy, good complexity, pronounced in fruit, multi-layered texture, vivid, precise tannins. Everything is perfectly executed here and that makes a really great wine, which has an excellent future ahead of it. (5/28/21)"

100 points (20/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2010 already marks Cheval Blanc's stunning return to Bordeaux excellence: a dark wine with deep, persistent floral and spicy aromas. Its earthy flavors are less expansive than those of the 2009, while its prolix, very persistent mouthfeel captures a host of spices and flowers and blossoms with breed. Sumptuous length. (2014)"

100 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$1,500 list] This is the finest Cheval Blanc for many years. It is, quite simply, magnificent. The wine shows the greatness of Cabernet Franc in the vintage, with 57% of the variety in the blend. It is beautifully structured and perfumed, with velvety tannins, balanced acidity and swathes of black-currant and black-cherry fruits. It's well on course to becoming a legendary wine. Alcohol 14.7%. (May 2013)"

100 points (20/20) Decanter (12/4/11).