{"product_id":"chateau-cheval-blanc-saint-emilion-1er-grand-cru-a-classe-2018","title":"Chateau Cheval Blanc Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru A Classe 2018","description":"\u003ch2\u003eChateau Cheval Blanc Saint Emilion 1th Grand Cru A Classe 2018\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrior to the 2022 vintage, this wine was classed as Premier Grand Cru Classe A.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCritic tasting note: (2018 vintage)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Deep, dense and chocolatey, this is a lush and concentrated St.-Emilion. Enormous depth of fine tannins here, and the lively acidity lifts all this beautifully on the almost opulent palate. Very long, surprisingly supple finish. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.\" \u003cstrong\u003e- James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"If awards were given out for sensuality, this gem would take the trophy. Incredibly sexy, with its velvet drenched textures, silky tannins and opulent personality, this wine stands out in a crowd. The nose, with its aromatic display of flowers, plums, cherries, espresso, licorice, dark cocoa and oyster shell is compelling. The seamless finish crosses the 60 second mark with its non-stop display of concentrated, perfectly ripe, dark sweet, red fruits, chocolate, licorice and spice. If you can afford it, it is a wine you should have in your cellar and you'll want to age this for at least 15 years before popping a bottle. The wine was made using 54% Merlot , 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon , 14.5% ABV. This wine is a legend in the making. 100 Points\" \u003cstrong\u003e- Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (100\/100)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The 2018 Château Cheval Blanc is a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a 3.75 pH and 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling and air to releases fragrant notes of stewed plums, juicy black cherries and ripe blackberries with underlying suggestions of damp soil, black truffles, rose oil and cardamom with wafts of underbrush and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with rich black fruits and loads of earthy accents, framed by super firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness to balance, finishing with amazing length and a beautiful array of floral and mineral sparks. Thirty-three plots contributed to this wine, out of the forty-three in production. Of the rest, five went into Petit Cheval and five into bulk. It will need a good 6-7 years at least to really start to strut its stuff and should cellar for a further 30 years or more.\" \u003cstrong\u003e- Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown (98\/100)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The first thing that strikes about this wine is its massive density. The second is the richness of the structured Cabernet Franc that is such an important element in the blend. Weight is balanced by the intense fruits and amazing freshness of a wine that has such concentration. This wine will age for years. Don't touch it before 2027.\" \u003cstrong\u003e- Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (98\/100)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVintage Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a very wet January, the weather in February was normal for the season. There was twice the usual rain in March whilst April was in line with the norm. May and June were very wet although not unusually so. Finally, dry weather set in from mid-June. The temperatures in the first half of the year were normal although February was exceptionally cold and April was a couple of degrees warmer than average. Moderate temperatures were recorded in July and August. These months were fairly dry apart from some rainfall in the first week of July. September was quite dry with only 26 mm of rainfall. As a result, the grapes reached perfect maturity and the harvest was completed in October in glorious weather.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProducer Tasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep, intense red colour. The nose is redolent of tremendously fruity and floral notes, with touches of raspberry and violet. Swirling in the glass reveals a more intense bouquet with black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant aromas. The ever-present floral notes go on to develop rose and lilac overtones. Spicy and balsamic nuances round off the already complex bouquet with cocoa beans and black pepper aromas. The nose is impressively fresh, complex, and well-defined. The wine starts out sumptuously rich and full-bodied on the palate. The powerful, rich tannins contribute to the deep, long, firm, well-balanced, and refined structure. Very elegant, it coats the palate and continues into a long, crunchy, fresh aftertaste. The finish marks a return to floral and fruity aromas with spicy overtones. The precision and balance of this wine are on par with the estate’s greatest vintages. 1st March 2019.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClassification\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSaint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrinking Window\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2026 - 2060\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMaturation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOaked\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOak Type\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrench\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePierre-Olivier Clouet\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chateau Cheval Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Bottle (750 ml)","offer_id":67152581853357,"sku":"18-CHBLC-PEV01RR","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0556\/8829\/8669\/products\/Chateau_Cheval_Blanc_Saint_Emilion_1th_Grand_Cru_A_Classe_2016.jpg?v=1687212675","url":"https:\/\/symbolicwines.com\/products\/chateau-cheval-blanc-saint-emilion-1er-grand-cru-a-classe-2018","provider":"Symbolic Wines®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}