Chateau Cheval Blanc 1995

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This is a hard style of Cheval Blanc. The nose is there, but on the palate, the wine exerts a certain toughness on the palate that some tasters might like more than others. That is just not something I seek in Cheval Blanc. If this sounds like your type of wine, you can pop a cork on it today, or age it a few more years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Medium ruby-garnet edge. Intense aromas of plums, cherries and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and very tight, with supersilky tannins and a long finish. Solid core of fruit. Still holding back.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A pretty, attractive Cheval Blanc, the 1995 contains a higher percentage of Merlot in the final blend than usual (50% Merlot/50% Cabernet Franc). This wine has not developed as much fat or weight as its younger sibling, the 1996, but it appears to be an outstanding Cheval Blanc with an enthralling smoky, black currant, coffee, and exotic bouquet. Complex, rich, medium to full-bodied flavors are well-endowed and pure, with surprisingly firm tannin in the finish. Unlike the sweeter, riper 1996, the 1995 may be more structured and potentially longer-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020."