Château Cheval Blanc 1947 St. Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classé (A)Good level, label lightly damp stained, new capsule, label states recorked and relabelled by the Château in 2000, taken to the Château by Graham Lyons, originally ex Christie's sale, June 1975Vintage from 15 September to 4 October. 14.4% alcohol. We all know about the difficult fermentations (ice in the vats!), extremely high residual sugar and volatile acidity. It can shout blackcurrants and sweetness, as well as coffee and chocolate, something of a Bailey's Cream of a wine! I have seen bottles of perfect provenance that have a thick Portiness unlike any other wine plus fireworks on the finish, truly overwhelming. I would always take the 1949 and 1948 over it, but that is a personal stylistic preference! In 2011 at the Château, a great nose of dark chocolate and vanilla pod, almost vanilla bourbon. Such incredible depth and persistence of bouquet. Like a beautiful, soft liqueur, so dense and yet now so palate-caressing. Cocoa powder at the end. Serena Sutcliffe, MW WA 100 185:1 mag (cn)per lot: GBP 17,000-24,000per lot: USD 20,000-28,000per lot: EUR 19,000-26,000LYING IN OCTAVIAN, WILTSHIREOffered Duty Paid onlyEstimates are per lot