Château Cheval Blanc St Emilion Grand Cru Premier Grand Cru Classé A 2006

A less exuberant vintage than the 2009 and 2010 that we tasted at the same time, this is a classically knitted-together Cabernet Franc-dominant year, with the emphasis on dark fruits edging towards tertiary brambled character at 17 years old. Mint leaf, tobacco, smoked earth, dried herbs and crushed rose petals. Still plenty of life and grip in this wine, now in its drinking window but with zero rush, and likely to stay at this luscious, inviting moment for decades to come. 50% new oak.