Two bottle Gift box, one Cheval blanc 2011 and one Cheval des Andes 2011
Winemaker Notes Cheval Blanc 2011
The color is a deep crimson. The first nose immediately reveals the wine’s complexity. The aromatic expression combines hints of violet and peony which develop towards notes of summer fruit, raspberry and black cherry. This stylish vintage boasts aromatic freshness, precision and clarity. On the palate the attack is rounded and ample. The middle palate is full and fleshy, with an exceedingly long-lasting finish. The tannins are elegant and silky, creating perfect balance on the palate. This wine leaves a highly aromatic impression of fruit and freshness.
Critical Acclaim
JD96 Jeb Dunnuck
A vintage that’s being drunk with abandon in France these days, the 2011 Cheval Blanc showed beautifully, and the firm tannins that define this vintage are nowhere to be found here. Sweet black fruits, spice, incense, and exotic flowers define the bouquet and it has classic Cheval Blanc complexity. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, with sweet tannins, and a great finish, it’s a beautiful Saint-Emilion to drink over the coming 2-3 decades.
Winemaker Notes Cheval Des Andes 2011
The 2011 Cheval des Andes presents an attractive deep red color with purple shades. This wine seduces with great aromatic intensity and exquisite gentleness provided by grape concentration coming from an exceptional terroir, a precise winemaking process and extended oak barrel aging. Powerful and elegant. Cheval des Andes 2011 surprises for its balanced complexity, aromatic precision and presence of soft and delicate tannins. A wine with great personality and character.
Critical Acclaim
RP94 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2011 Cheval des Andes is at the same time riper but also has higher acidity than 2010 and is a slightly more powerful version of 2010. The palate has very good volume while keeping the freshness. They also reduced the toast from the barrels and improved the quality of the barrels they use (45% new oak was used in 2011). The final blend of 2011 was 71% Malbec, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot. There is red and black fruit plus minty notes on the nose. The palate has density, acidity and good fruit sweetness (but not sweet). The acidity is very precise, the tannins are ripe and sweet, it seems to have the ingredients for a long and nice aging in the bottle. It had the best palate of the trio of vintages I tasted together, 2010, 2011 and 2012. 2011 was a short vintage, so there are no rules. They selected the grapes and whatever volume they produce that’s what it is. In this vintage, they finally bottled 45,000 bottles. It’s not easy to decide between 2010 and 2011, as both are great vintages.
