Somewhat overshadowed by its two illustrious predecessors, 2011 Château Cheval Blanc benefited from dry (but not excessively dry) weather throughout the growing season. This was a beautiful, very classic vintage that reflects the estate’s winemaking philosophy. The wine was entirely aged in new oak barrels for 15 months prior to 4% of the 2011 Cheval Blanc being bled from fermentation vats. Traditional fining with egg white was done in order to settle particles in suspension in barrels. Two egg whites were used per barrel. These were later eliminated by filtration.

This elegant, delicate wine is slated to be a great classic. The color is deep red and the nose is complex from the very first, expressing a floral (violet and peony) aspect that gives way to attractive red fruit, raspberry, and black cherry aromas. This vintage shines thanks to its aromatic freshness and precision. It starts off very full-bodied on the palate. The middle palate is quite full, rich, and voluptuous, and the aftertaste is interminable. The tannin is smooth, silky, and elegant, and the wine is altogether perfectly balanced, with lovely fresh fruit on the finish. 2011 Château Cheval Blanc has an extremely promising future. Elegant, complex, and sensual, it will undoubtedly represent a very classic style of Cheval Blanc after several years in bottle.