1989 Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Emilion, Case of 12 btls

AG 95 " The 1989 Cheval Blanc is a vintage that I have not encountered since 2010. One bottle opened was rustic and fatigued, and Pierre-Olivier Clouet opened a second that was much better. It has a gorgeous bouquet of ample red fruit, morels, black truffle, cigar box and hints of brown sugar, all very well defined and charming. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and approaching full maturity; brown spices, bay leaf and clove infuse the red berry fruit. At 30 years of age, I suspect this 1989 will not improve further, but its robustness suggests that any decline will be graceful. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the chateau. (NM)" (September 2019)
Chateau Cheval Blanc, Premier Grand Cru Classe A, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru