Corton Charlemagne 2004 (Bonneau de Martray) *****
Pale lemon in colour, youthful green tinge; restrained, minerally, lemon butter and smoky oak evident, still needing time to integrate, quite taut, this wine never seems to age; lovely, taut minerally flavours, slightly more evolved on the palate than on the nose, fine acidity, quite steely but with a long, ripe finish, needs more time, at least another two years. 19
Chateau Pichon Lalande 1986 ****
Still mid-deep in colour with very little browning on the rim; fine, fragrant, showing some evolution on the nose, cedary, touch of resin, blackcurrant, slight soily undertone but fine and focuse; lovely lithe tannins on the palate, fine and firm, gentle and focused. Drink within the next 5 years. 17
Chateau Cheval Blanc 1988 ****
Mid-deep youthful colour; very fine, plummy, cedary fruit, opening up, delightful floral fragrance; firm, quite tight, (65% Cabernet Franc), some richness evident, still very fresh and quite sweet, quite plump with good depth and length. Very good but stops short of outstanding. 18
Scoring
19 - 20 An outstanding wine (*****)
17 – 18 An excellent wine in its class, highly recommended (****)
15 - 16 A good wine, with much to recommend it (***)
13 - 14 An enjoyable but simple, straightforward wine (**)
10 – 12 A very ordinary wine without faults but with no great merit (*)
8 - 10 Disagreeable (no stars)
Below 8 Faulty