x
  • Country ranking ?

    276
  • Producer ranking ?

    16
  • Decanting time

    1h
  • When to drink

    now
  • Food Pairing

    Roast chicken & turkey and guineafowl

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

The Story

Whether by design or by pure chance, there are in the world exceptional places. Cheval Blanc is one of these. Combining a unique soil with a symbiotic mix of grape varieties, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, Cheval Blanc produces a wine, which has the rare quality of being good at any age. It is without doubt one of the most consistent wines in the world. Cheval Blanc's unique identity is due to its varied soils, early-ripening microclimate, the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the vineyard, and the close proximity of the finest wines of Pomerol.

Château Cheval Blanc has the rare ability to be good at whatever age. It is enjoyable young or as much as a century old in certain vintages. However, a great wine only reveals its full potential and all its subtle nuances after several years in bottle. It takes time to show its true colours and before reaching its peak. Every vintage of Cheval Blanc is made according to the traditional philosophy that great wine needs to age.
It should nevertheless be said that wines with ageing potential go through several periods, and that each one has its own type of attractiveness. This is all part of Château Cheval Blanc's fascinating complexity. Three different bottles of Cheval Blanc from the same vintage drunk at five, twenty, and forty years of age will each show a different facet of the same wine, variations on the same lovely theme. A bottle of fine wine meant to age is like a library of flavours that develop throughout its existence.
Wine is a "cultural" beverage that is very much alive and develops countless nuances over time. That is why this long waiting period needs to be respected. It is crucial to the wine's evolution, so that it can deliver its very best.

Close

Wine Information

1921 was an excellent vintage for the best wines of Saint-Emilion, and especially for Château Cheval Blanc. The great heat during the harvest concentrated sugars in the grapes, allowing to vinify a wine of remarkable complexity.1921 is remembered for the scorching heat that enveloped the Bordeaux region during the month of September. The harvest took place from September 19 to October 5 at very high temperatures.

Soil: three main types of soil – gravel with clay subsoil, deep gravel, sand with clay subsoil
Production area: 37 ha
Grape varieties: Cabernet Franc 58%, Merlot 42%
Average age of vines: 40 years, the oldest are 80 years (1920)
Harvest method: by hand, with sorting on reception in the cellar
Winemaking: 4 pumpings of 15 mins per day during the alcoholic fermentation. Vat sizes corresponding to plots in vineyard, ranging from 50 to 120 hectolitres. Separate vinifications according to soil, age of vines and grape variety.
Ageing: in 100% new oak barrels for 14 to 18 months, depending on the power of the vintage

Close

Vintage 1921

The weather conditions in Bordeaux during the 1921 growing season were instrumental in shaping the extraordinary character of the vintage. The year began with a mild winter, followed by a warm and dry spring. Summer brought ideal conditions, with consistent sunshine and warm temperatures, allowing the grapes to ripen fully. The harvest took place under clear skies, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality.

Bordeaux 1921 Reds: The best red wines of Bordeaux from the 1921 vintage are considered excelent and have achieved iconic status among collectors and wine enthusiasts, especially the ones from Left Bank.

Appearance: The 1921 Bordeaux reds typically exhibit a deep garnet color with little sign of aging, showcasing their remarkable longevity.

Nose: On the nose, the 1921 Bordeaux reds offer a complex and alluring bouquet of dried fruits, cedar, tobacco, leather, and hints of truffle. The aromatic profile is a testament to the exceptional ripeness and concentration of the grapes.

Palate: In the mouth, the 1921 Bordeaux reds are marked by their remarkable depth, concentration, and structure. The tannins, having aged gracefully, provide a velvety and luxurious mouthfeel. The wines maintain a refreshing acidity, contributing to their longevity. Flavors of dried cherries, blackcurrants, and nuances of spice and tobacco intermingle harmoniously, creating a profound and enduring finish.

 

Close

Tasting note

color

Full and Brick red

ending

Long, Smooth and Extensive

flavors

Coffee, Mineral, Floral, Chocolate, Leather and Earthy

nose

Intense, Pure, Ripe and Generous

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Warming, Medium tannin, Well-structured, Complex, Perfectly balanced, Mature, Full-bodied, Rich, Ripe, Firm and Sweet

Verdict

Sophisticated and Impressive

Written Notes

This is the vintage where Cheval Blanc made its reputation. Château-bottled, excellent condition with base neck level. Decanted only for 30 minutes (we simply could not wait any longer). A very dark but bright colour with some amber on the rim. Huge, immensely rich nose - opened immediately with lots of exotic fruit aromas, together with chocolate and coffee notes. An unbelievably rich and complex wine. Very thick, warm and multi-layered with sweet fruit and soft, melted tannins that follow all the way through. It was even better than the first tasting we had from a château-bottling magnum nine years previously. Heavier, richer and a more luscious wine than back then, and even at that time we thought it was masterpiece. The most recent encounter - another château-bottled magnum - was superior to the previous ones. It was more youthful, richer and had millions of layers, unbelievably. What a privileged job I have!
  • 96p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

St. Emilion, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Investment potential

Good

Fake factory

Serious

Glass time

45min

Inside Information

I have been fortunate to have had the 1921 from impeccable sources on several occasions and it remains one of the great wines of my life. Its overriding quality is one of sweetness, almost liqueur-like. Plums and sugar - I would love to know the residual sugar in this wine but we could never spare any for analysis! It is a vinous miracle - or is it a mystery?

Serena Sutcliffe, MW

 

This vintage is a perfect marriage of sweet richness and acid tension that allowed the wine to age remarkably.
On the nose, aromas of red fruits, leather and honey are easily noticeable. The sensation of sweetness is intense.

In the mouth, the flavors of fruit brandy, leather, wax and caramel dominate, enhanced with notes of very ripe plums and dried flowers. Round and full, driven by still very vivid acid tension that sustains the richness of aromas, the mouth ends with a finale of an exceptional length. - See more at: http://www.chateau-cheval-blanc.com/en/vintages/chateau-cheval-blanc-1921#sthash.6b0SI8ng.dpuf

Read more
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register