Named dropped as a wink to wine aficionados in Pixar's Ratatouille, the 1947 Château Cheval Blanc is an accidental masterpiece. Created during an abnormally oppressive hot summer that ruined a many vats of wine, the '47 Cheval is arguably one of the most celebrated and coveted wines of the 20th century. Mike Steinberger for Slate shares the experience of trying it:
The moment I lifted the glass to my nose and took in that sweet, spicy, arresting perfume, my notion of excellence in wine, and my understanding of what wine was capable of, was instantly transformed—I could almost hear the scales recalibrating in my head. The '47 was the warmest, richest, most decadent wine I'd ever encountered. Even more striking than its opulence was its freshness. The flavors were redolent of stewed fruits and dead flowers, yet the wine tasted alive; it bristled with energy and purpose. The '47s signature flaws—the residual sugar and volatile acidity—were readily apparent, but it was just as Lurton had said: In this wine, the flaws inexplicably became virtues.
What's the most impressive wine you've ever tasted? Mine was from the wonderful and pastoral vineyard of Saint Ides.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from the likes of PBR is 