Château Cheval Blanc 1982 (12 BT)

Château Cheval Blanc 1982  

St. Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé (A) 

u. 2bn, 2vts, labels discoloured yellow through the application of varnish, repacked from owc 

54.3 hl/hectare made and only 12.8% alcohol - these facts still amaze. In 2023, that rich, exciting saddle-leather nose that is inimitable, plus black cherry liqueur and surging crushed blueberries. And then an element of dark mystery - this is explosive! Black liquorice on the palate, with immense sweetness. The vigour is show-stopping, with infinite volume and opulence, plus a texture like a great tapestry, intricate and densely woven. A glorious black cherries mega kick at the end - where will this go? Clearly, it will be after me! There is a touch of the 1947 to this, but with more harmony. Is this the greatest ever Cheval Blanc, perhaps with the 1921...... Serena Sutcliffe, MW 

WA 92 

12 bts (cn) 

Provenance:

The collection was started well over 40 years ago, before the internet, and was acquired from reputable UK wine merchants, and has never been moved since original purchase. The Doctor, through his contacts in the Wine Trade, developed an unerring eye for the best they had. All the original invoices have been kept on record, together with initial offers, newsletters etc. The collection bestrides the best of Rhône and Burgundy, and offers a wealth of lots from such as Beaucastel, Chave, Jaboulet, Vieux Télégraphe and the very sought-after Gentaz-Dervieux, an estate now lost to time. Further North, in Burgundy, we have important offerings from Engel, Anne Gros, Lafon, both Georges and Christophe Roumier, Armand Rousseau, the list goes on. Underpinning this are selections from Bordeaux, featuring all the 1st Growths, plus Super Seconds and other Classed Growths, together with rare German lots, notably Dr Loosen, Von Schubert and J.J. Prum. The collection has been stored, since original purchase, in the naturally cool and damp series of cellars under a beautiful traditional English country house.      

Doctor S bought the house in part for these four large cellars, in order to store his wine collection. These chambers are vibration-free, brick-floored, with a constant temperature and are notably damp. For the long-term storage of fine and rare wines, they were perfect, evident by the generally excellent levels in these mature bottles. The condition and the colour of the wine is remarkable. The humidity has affected the labels in a number of ways. Some have become detached or are peeling. Some are fragile or soiled. The Doctor sought to delay this process in a number of ways, such as wrapping the bottles in clingfilm or plastic bags, or through the use of hair lacquer or varnish applied to the labels. An explanation of each method can be found in the overview, and details of what was done is given in each lot description.

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