2011 Chevalier Montrachet
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Tasting notes
Good bright, pale yellow-straw. Perfumed aromas of peach pit and vanillin oak, lifted by spicy high notes. Rich and concentrated but light on its feet. Shows sweet stone fruit flavors and very good breadth on the front half, then turns firmer and more saline on the back end, finishing dry and brisk, with lingering notes of citrus peel and white peach. Boasts a lovely core of sweet fruit but this will need patience.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
12-14 months in barrel, up to 20% new. Not giving much away on the nose. Some cedary citrus. Richer on the palate than I expected from the nose but still very much a child of this vintage. More length than depth, clean cut and subtle. (JH)
Bright pale yellow. Rich aromas and flavors of lemon zest, white flowers and gingerbread. Full and sappy but given an urgent, juicy quality by a superb acid/mineral spine. Nothing heavy or flaccid about this beauty in spite of its sweet, open-knit mid-palate. The impressively firm, rising, peacock's tail of a finish boasts terrific energy for the year. This one actually finished with lower residual sugar than the 2010 version, which has close to two grams per liter, according to Prost.
This is also ultra-pure and very cool with its essence of white flowers, citrus, green apple, pear and mineral reduction scents. There is outstanding verve and cut to the driving, concentrated and wonderfully intense middle weight flavors that seem to be extracted directly from liquid rock. The saline-infused finish is relatively dry but not especially austere and reflects well the naturally refined and classy mouth feel of a classic Chevalier. While there is no noticeable qualitative difference between this and the Corton-Charlemagne, I prefer the elegance and refinement of the Chevalier. Tasted: Jun 11, 2013. Drink: 2017+
About the producer
Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest and most established wine producers. Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, it is the largest vineyard owner in the Côte d’Or with 130 hectares of vines.