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Château Cheval Blanc
What wine lover hasn't heard of Château Cheval Blanc, one of Bordeaux's most unmissable and legendary wines? It was in 1832 that Domaine was purchased by Jean-Jacques Ducasse, president of the Libourne court, who contributed to its development.
He climbed the prestige ladder and, in 1878, won his first gold medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle. The excellence of Cheval Blanc wines would continue to be recognized the world over for decades to come.
In 1998, the estate was handed over to Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère, both of whom breathed new life into Domaine, while respecting its history and heritage. Headed today by Pierre Lurton, the quest for perfect quality vintage after vintage remains the estate's credo. This is made possible in particular by the majestic winery inaugurated in 2011, which enables tailor-made vinifications to reveal the potential of each part of this illustrious terroir.
When the first edition of the Saint-Emilion classification was published in 1955, Château Cheval Blanc was immediately promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A". It retained this distinction until the 2021 vintage. At the beginning of 2022, Domaine chose to withdraw from the classification, the next edition of which was due to be made official in September of the same year. Thus, from the 2022 vintage, the label of... See more ...
Critics Château Cheval Blanc 2011.
Description Château Cheval Blanc 2011.
2011 is an ideal vintage in Bordeaux, with optimal climatic conditions. The warm spring allowed a beautiful flowering of the vines, the summer was rather cool but marked by a peak of heat at the end of August which allowed to refine the maturation of the berries. The Merlot grapes were very ripe while the Cabernet Franc grapes were more fresh.
2011 marks the inauguration of the new winery designed by Christian de Portzamparc, whose concept is simple: one tank for one parcel. The tailor-made vinification has thus allowed the full potential of this vintage to be brought out, revealing an exuberance of aromas, a beautiful color and a great texture in the mouth.
Blend of the 2011 vintage: 52% Cabernet Franc, 47% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The color is a nice deep dark color, with beautiful purple and tile highlights.
The nose is fine and complex, offering intense notes of black fruits, blackcurrant, eucalyptus and menthol, underlined by a touch of white pepper.
The attack is silky, revealing a dense and deep wine supported by very fine tannins. It offers a velvety sensation in the mouth, characterized by a beautiful aromatic brightness that lasts throughout. It ends in a suave way on a long persistent finish, signing a very great white Cheval.
Food and wine pairing:
Château Cheval Blanc 2011 will pair well with truffled veal mignon cooked with string, beef chuck confit, crispy roast bacon with black truffle, or herb-crusted rack of lamb with oriental flavors.
For a pairing with cheese, choose uncooked pressed cheeses: Edam, Gouda, Saint-nectaire, morbier, Tomme de Savoie or Salers.
For dessert, it will be particularly exquisite with Yann Couvreur's Caribbean dessert, a coffee tiramisu or a Russian.
Ageing potential and tasting:
Château Cheval Blanc 2011 has a remarkable aging potential. Its peak will be reached between 2030 and 2035.
But it can be perfectly appreciated now if properly prepared. To do so, take care to open the bottle the night before, having placed it in the room at room temperature. If not, open it and decant it ideally 6 to 7 hours before tasting.
The bottles should be kept in the cellar, protected from light, lying down, at an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%.