Bordeaux
Timed Online Auction, 28 March - 15 April 2024
Bordeaux
About the SessionA carefully curated selection of highly sought-after collectables of Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style SA wines.
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Amongst the many acclaimed wines that are produced from the age-old vineyards of Saint-Émilion, few are as sought-after as those of Château Cheval Blanc. Vines have been grown at the place named Cheval Blanc for centuries and the vineyard of Saint-Emilion has produced wines of outstanding quality year after year, decade after decade, since late antiquity… they are some of the most acclaimed in the world – and the mythical Château Cheval Blanc is at their forefront. Château Cheval Blanc is arguably the most famous estate in Saint-Émilion and obtained the highest distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé “A” in 1954. The estate comprises 39 hectares of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, in near-equal amounts, expertly harnessing and honouring the historic terroir of the area. Cheval Blanc is a member of the exclusive “Club of 9” comprising the first growths of Bordeaux, and produces one of the world’s best Cabernet Franc-based wines.
Michael Egan Authentication code - 1415
Critics Ratings
'Good medium color, less saturated than the '95. Pungent, vibrant aromas of sappy berries and resiny oak, with an intriguing floral nuance. At once thick and polished on the palate, with an herbal, peppery complexity. Very long, subtle aftertaste, with some vanillin oak and a slight tannic edge. Not quite as ripe or seamless as the '95, but a very classy, intensely flavored wine that should put on weight in bottle.' - Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 92/100 (May 1996)
'It has an intriguing nose with expressive Cabernet Franc aromas that develop more floral, wilted petal tones with aeration. There are touches of desiccated red cherry and bacon fat. The palate is medium-bodied and nicely structured, quite savory in the mouth and showing some austerity towards the harmonious finish. It is a little curmudgeonly perhaps and I would consume bottles in the next 5-8 years, as it is not going to go anywhere.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Jul 2016)
'Firm and austere. It offers full, slightly dry tannins, with cherry, licorice and light herbal flavors. Needs time to soften; best after 2002.' - Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator (Mar 1999)
Provenance
The Coats Family Cellar is arguably the most prestigious fine wine collection ever offered in South Africa. It contains a deep collection of the worlds finest, most sought-after wines, spanning over 150 years. Collected over many decades, the cellar was imported from Ireland to South Africa via reefer. Each bottle within the Coats Family Cellar was authenticated by Michael Egan in August 2022 and given an ID number for tracking.
Michael Egan is a world-expert in fine and rare wines with more than thirty five years of experience. He was the principal expert for the plaintiff in the two major wine counterfeiting trials in Koch v. Eric Greenberg and United States v. Rudy Kurniawan, both of which occurred in 2013.
Along with Michael Egan, the Strauss & Co Fine Wine team have tasted extensively through the cellar and are confident of the wine storage and hence quality. The entire collection is currently stored at Wine Cellar.
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