The 2018 Quinault l'Enclos, a Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion, France, showcases a blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Produced by the team at Château Cheval Blanc, this wine reflects the expertise and meticulous attention to detail of its creators. With an alcohol content of 14.0%, the wine is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
The wine has garnered impressive reviews from several esteemed critics. Roger Voss from Wine Enthusiast awarded it a score of 94, noting, "Rich fruits have been given a sheen of wood aging and crafted tannins to make a wine that will age well. Drink from 2026." Voss's review highlights the wine's potential for aging and its well-balanced composition.
Jeb Dunnuck, who rated the wine 93, described it as having "lots of earthy red and black currant fruits, truffle, leather, camphor, and bouquet garni-like nuances." He emphasized the wine's rich, full-bodied texture and recommended decanting it if consumed soon, predicting it should last for two decades.
Vinous also rated the wine 94, praising its "creamy and ample" texture and the "striking interplay of floral and savory aromatic and layered fruit." The reviewer highlighted the significant improvements in this vintage, attributing them to recent replanting efforts and the expertise of the Cheval Blanc team.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the wine a score of 93+, appreciating its "deep garnet-purple color and beautifully expressed notes of baked black cherries, ripe black plums and boysenberries." She commended its "gorgeous velvety texture" and recommended waiting two years before enjoying it, to fully appreciate its complexity.
Decanter's review, also scoring 94, focused on the wine's balance, precision, and elegance. The reviewer noted, "Pristine blue fruits and floral touches linger through the palate," and mentioned the higher Cabernet content due to recent replantings.
James Suckling awarded the wine 93 points, describing it as "a juicy red with creamy, polished tannins and attractive blackberry, blackcurrant, wet-earth and bark flavors." He advised waiting until after 2024 to enjoy its full potential.
Lastly, Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider rated it 92, observing that the wine has improved significantly since its time in the barrel. He noted its "rich, luxurious, licorice, black cherry, smoke, spice and floral oriented" profile and recommended giving it a few more years in the cellar.
Overall, the 2018 Quinault l'Enclos is a well-crafted Bordeaux Blend that promises to age gracefully, offering a complex and rich drinking experience.