Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2006

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.

A great moment to begin drinking this, although still young at 15 years old with no rush to get going. Rich berry fruits, huge depth to the black cherry, textured raspberry and bilberry flavours, firm and fresh. Just the beginning of tobacco, fennel, truffle and crushed stone. 3.94ph. A year that really favoured Merlot, and its seductive appeal is fully on display.

A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 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.

Bristling with rich, silky texture, the energy here is ready and coiled. Soft black cherries, bilberries and crushed blackberries indicate clear ability to go further in the bottle. But I would be happy to risk a good, long carafing, if matching with food. Really develops in the glass, making it very easy to love this wine.