There is plumpness to the black fruit that gives beautiful impact on the attack, and here it combines with a tightening of the tannins from the mid-palate onwards. A deep richness to the texture tells you this is a complex and supremely confident wine.

Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Cheval Blanc has a refined bouquet with scents of red berry fruit, leather, iron filing and orange rind, perhaps a little more advanced than some of its Saint Emilion peers, but still attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry. This is a "stocky" Cheval Blanc, with the Cabernet Franc component really forming the backbone to this wine, imparting bell pepper and spice box notes towards the grippy finish. I think it might have peaked a couple of years ago, so drink now and over the next 15 years. Tasted February 2017. - Neal Martin

(17.5/20) Still suprisingly red with a slight brick rim. Lots of leafy red fruit – smells very Cabernet Franc. Super-fragrant. Very Cabernet Franc on the palate too with fine-grained but still grainy tannins. Gently fresh and notably long, with a really rounded feel to the mid palate. Beautifully balanced in that leafy style. (JH)

Starts off with loads of fresh herbs that turn to black licorice and sweet blackberry on the nose. Full-bodied, with a big, soft, velvety tannin structure. Long and caressing, with wonderful texture. Really builds on the palate. So delicious already. Best after 2012. 4,250 cases made. –JS