Hello everyone. I have almost completed my tastings of the 2021 in bottles. There will be no more big surprises (Petrus not tasted). Basically, even if this vintage is not at the level of 2016, 18, 19, 20 and 22. To my taste it is very often superior to 2014 and 2017 in any case. It is very particular with enormous finesse and above all a precision in defining each terroir that is rarely achieved. A school model if you want to introduce your future alcoholic children. And for old people like me :O), the advantage is that it will be drinkable much faster than its elders. Since I'm swamped with work these days, I only put my best notes. For a rating of a particular wine, do not hesitate to write to me;
Poised between its regal bearing, and, sensuous, sexy side, this is a clear contender for wine of the vintage, avoiding all of the pitfalls of the vintage. This sublime gem pops from the glass effortlessly with array of flowers, spices, red, and dark red fruits, tobacco, and mint leaves. The palate offers a majestic display of vibrant, al dente red fruits, and ripe, dark red berries, coupled with firm, cashmere, polished tannins, velvet-textured black cherries, and plums. This is showing even better in the bottle than it did in barrel! The wine blends 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet in over a decade. The willingness to delay harvesting, finishing October 14, along with low yields, at only 28 hectoliters per hectare are part of the reason the vintage was so successful. Drink from 2029-2060.
(97-98 vvPunkte) 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Die Nase springt aus dem Glas, florale Noten, rote, knackige Früchte, Minze, blonder Tabak, wunderbarer Duft. Im Gaumen feingliedrig, hochelegant, der Wein zeigt viel Struktur, die Frucht ist knackig, genau richtig reif, keinerlei Überreife, der Wein ist super elegant, hat Biss und Rasse, im Abgang eine grosse Länge, viel Frische. Eine Delikatesse die zurück an die kühleren, klassischen Jahre erinnern lässt. (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. Château Cheval-Blanc) vvWine.ch
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A gorgeous wine, especially when you consider the vintage, you start off with a nose offering complexities of tobacco leaf, violets, roses, spice-box, mint leaf, and ripe, red and black pit fruits. On the palate you find layers of sensual, pure, silky fruits, cashmere, polished tannins and a richness created by velvet textured plums and black cherries. There is a slight drop off in the weight of the fruit after the mid-palate that makes this a very, very good vintage for Cheval Blanc, but stops it from being one of the great vintages from the estate. Still, there is a lot to love about the 2021 Cheval, making this one of the contenders for wine of the vintage. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.25% ABV, 3.61 pH. The harvest took place September 24 - October 14, making this a very late vintage here. In fact, it is the lateness of the harvest that is the secret to the success of the vintage. Yields were low at only 28 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2055. 96-98
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En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Blackcurrant springs from the glass with plums, a little mint, and plenty of polished oak in a supporting role. Touch of coffee here as well. Juicy acidity, fleshy but with plentiful tannins in support, similar profile to the Petit Cheval but even more controlled though it does finish a little hard and I find it very slightly out of whack. Okay
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No notes due to 400 wines at EP however the Grabd Vin and third Label (QE) delivered the goods (wasn’t as fond of the Petit at least at this stage). This is top five wines of the right bank with very good depth and length. Will take some time to balance out but will be a beauty. Buyer
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3/11/2024 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 97 Points
Hello everyone. I have almost completed my tastings of the 2021 in bottles. There will be no more big surprises (Petrus not tasted). Basically, even if this vintage is not at the level of 2016, 18, 19, 20 and 22. To my taste it is very often superior to 2014 and 2017 in any case. It is very particular with enormous finesse and above all a precision in defining each terroir that is rarely achieved. A school model if you want to introduce your future alcoholic children. And for old people like me :O), the advantage is that it will be drinkable much faster than its elders. Since I'm swamped with work these days, I only put my best notes. For a rating of a particular wine, do not hesitate to write to me;
1 Lafleur 98-99
2 Carmes H-B 98
3 Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc, Vieux Certan, Margaux, Lafite 97
4 Montrose, Las Cases, Le Pin 96-97
And finally the Oscar for best value for money
Laroque 94-95
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3/5/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Poised between its regal bearing, and, sensuous, sexy side, this is a clear contender for wine of the vintage, avoiding all of the pitfalls of the vintage. This sublime gem pops from the glass effortlessly with array of flowers, spices, red, and dark red fruits, tobacco, and mint leaves. The palate offers a majestic display of vibrant, al dente red fruits, and ripe, dark red berries, coupled with firm, cashmere, polished tannins, velvet-textured black cherries, and plums. This is showing even better in the bottle than it did in barrel! The wine blends 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet in over a decade. The willingness to delay harvesting, finishing October 14, along with low yields, at only 28 hectoliters per hectare are part of the reason the vintage was so successful. Drink from 2029-2060.
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6/20/2022 - vvWine.ch wrote: 98 Points
(97-98 vvPunkte) 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Die Nase springt aus dem Glas, florale Noten, rote, knackige Früchte, Minze, blonder Tabak, wunderbarer Duft. Im Gaumen feingliedrig, hochelegant, der Wein zeigt viel Struktur, die Frucht ist knackig, genau richtig reif, keinerlei Überreife, der Wein ist super elegant, hat Biss und Rasse, im Abgang eine grosse Länge, viel Frische. Eine Delikatesse die zurück an die kühleren, klassischen Jahre erinnern lässt. (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. Château Cheval-Blanc) vvWine.ch
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6/11/2022 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 96 Points
96-97
One of the best Right Bank of the vintage with Lafleur, Figeac and Laroque (for his fabulous QRP)
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5/20/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
A gorgeous wine, especially when you consider the vintage, you start off with a nose offering complexities of tobacco leaf, violets, roses, spice-box, mint leaf, and ripe, red and black pit fruits. On the palate you find layers of sensual, pure, silky fruits, cashmere, polished tannins and a richness created by velvet textured plums and black cherries. There is a slight drop off in the weight of the fruit after the mid-palate that makes this a very, very good vintage for Cheval Blanc, but stops it from being one of the great vintages from the estate. Still, there is a lot to love about the 2021 Cheval, making this one of the contenders for wine of the vintage. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.25% ABV, 3.61 pH. The harvest took place September 24 - October 14, making this a very late vintage here. In fact, it is the lateness of the harvest that is the secret to the success of the vintage. Yields were low at only 28 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2055. 96-98
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5/19/2022 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 99 Points
EP tasting. Very likely one of the contenders of wine of the vintage....!
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4/28/2022 - chatters wrote:
En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Blackcurrant springs from the glass with plums, a little mint, and plenty of polished oak in a supporting role. Touch of coffee here as well. Juicy acidity, fleshy but with plentiful tannins in support, similar profile to the Petit Cheval but even more controlled though it does finish a little hard and I find it very slightly out of whack. Okay
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4/26/2022 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine:
No notes due to 400 wines at EP however the Grabd Vin and third Label (QE) delivered the goods (wasn’t as fond of the Petit at least at this stage). This is top five wines of the right bank with very good depth and length. Will take some time to balance out but will be a beauty. Buyer
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