Forever immortalized, iconic, and legendary, Château Cheval Blanc is one of the rarefied cult labels of Bordeaux. It’s a Grand Cru that few people will ever taste—let alone a perfectly cellared bottling from 1989—but for those who have the means (not me!), that rare chance is today.

And I mean “chance” quite literally: We only have 12 library-release bottles available to offer, all of which are packed into one OWC that has just docked from Bordeaux. We are allowing just one bottle per person. Aside from that information, nothing else really needs to be said. Truly, this is among the most celebrated wines on the planet. Note that our dozen bottles are set to arrive at our warehouse in late November. 

Here’s the most recent tasting note from the château: 

This is a concentrated, complex vintage at Cheval Blanc, with remarkable freshness. The colour is beautiful and deep, with a just a touch of brown on the rim. The nose takes time to open up. Both complex and concentrated, it expresses blackcurrant and prune compote aromas. The bouquet goes on to display slightly spicy, peppery overtones, as well as suggestions of forest floor, leather, and herbes de Provence. 1989 Cheval Blanc is round and fresh on the palate. Well-structured, it has good body and ethereal tannin, as well as opulent, elegant flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant, macerated cherries, and a soupçon of musk. The remarkably long and complex aftertaste has smoky and Russian leather notes. The 1989 vintage has come of age, but its remarkable freshness implies that it will hold at its peak for years to come.

I recommend either pulling the cork one hour prior to service or immediately serving it into Bordeaux stems and allowing it to evolve in the glass over the evening. Use your best judgment.