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  • Country ranking ?

    755
  • Producer ranking ?

    35
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    Now
  • Food Pairing

    Beef

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.

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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.

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Vintage 1971

Bordeaux: 1971 was a very good vintage, the only fault of which was being overshadowed by the exceptional 1970 vintage. The size of the 1971 vintage harvest was very small, which made the wines a rarity. Well-stored examples of wine are likely to remain mature for a few more years. Sauternes and Barsac: Sweet wines such as Sauternes and Barsac have been exceptional this year and will last for many decades to come.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

25 tasting notes

Tasting note

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Written Notes

Grand deep ruby red colour with a garnet rim. The nose is stylish and layered, opening up in the glass and revealing new nuances time after time. The range of aromas spans from red berry, salted licorice, wood, leather all the way to earthy notes. Still youthful palate is firm and harmonious. This wine is peaking now, but will have no problems in hanging onto the top form for another 10 to 15 years. Surprisingly good.
  • 94p

Gut gefiel mir der 1971 Cheval Blanc, so seidig, elegant und schmeichlerisch, sehr balanciert und harmonisch. Baute im Glas aus und zeigte noch Potential für ein paar mehr Jahre, kein großer, aber ein sehr feiner Cheval Blanc – WT93.

  • 93p

Magnum served blind initially alongside Monte Bello 1971. Wonderfully sweet, round and florally aromatic with a beautifully smooth texture. A brilliant wine, even if not a blockbuster, and one that I was given blind by owner Jacques Hébrard when I visited the château while researching The Great Wine Book in 1981. I'm delighted to be able to add a tasting note on it to our database – even if it is arguably more enthusiastic than explicatory. Still going strong.

  • 100p

Cheval Blanc– very complex, long and well-defined wine. Sophisticated, refined, fabulous complexity, structure and length. Long aftertaste. Lucky enough to taste this perfectly stored bottle. Still lots of life in this wine. 96p.

  • 96p

From a German private cellar. Level: bottom neck, cork healthy.

This bottle despite its very dirty label must have been stored perfectly in a cellar with high humidity. Colour: Absolutely clear but of course brownish. Bouquet: Amazing! Seductive sweetness from the first moment on. Not a hint of oxidation, no mushroom or old barrel smell. Simply outstanding purity, very warm and welcoming. In this condition surely one of the best 1971 Bordeaux wines. It does not have the power of 1971 Trotanoy or 1971 Latour but it offered pure drinking pleasure until the last sip. Everything in perfect balance in this bottle, fruit, body, the tannins soft. It is at its peak of life and if you are lucky and find bottles like this one you will not have to worry for another five to ten years. Seriously underrated by Parker and that is why the market price is pretty decent. A big surprise in terms of quality.    

 

  • 96p
Bottom neck fill. Pale ruby, brick rim. Tobacco, exotic, floral and perfumed. Nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant if lean body, nose gives more than palate, good length.
  • 91p
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Information

Origin

St. Emilion, Bordeaux
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