2021 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge - Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classe

Bettane & Desseauve – (95-96) pts: *L’une des grandes réussites de l’appellation, avec de toute évidence des cabernets qui sont allés loin en maturité de raisin. Énergie, finesse aromatique, noblesse du tannin et du boisé. Tous les échantillons dégustés son parfaitement tirés.*

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *Cherry blossom and ripe cherry on the nose. Smooth and supple, a nice energy and focus to this straight away with lifted acidity and a chalky core that is super mineral and laced with liquorice and wet stones. Feels like a serious wine with well-handled oak and tannins on the prominent side but really supportive and giving the frame. Needs to age, but more importantly it feels like it will be able to age and develop really well. Lots of life and style to this. A great effort. I like this alot.* - 12/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Etwas Nugat, ein Hauch von Zwetschken, reife Feigen, Anklänge von Rosinen. Saftig, frische Herzkirschen, fruchtsüße Textur, lebendig strukturiert, reife, tragende Tannine, elegant und anhaftend, mineralisch im Nachhall, zeigt Länge und Potenzial.* - 03/2024

The Wine Advocate – (93-95) pts – WK: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier is full of promise, bursting with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, bay leaf, licorice, potpourri and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, its velvety attack segues into a lively, layered core, concluding with a long, nicely defined finish. Olivier Bernard doesn't think that this will surpass his 2018, but I tend to disagree. The 2021 is a blend of fully 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.*

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20pts: *Zuerst recht holzgeprägt, dann fruchtiger; glasklarer Auftakt, geradlinige, besonders rassige und fruchtige Entwicklung, spürbare Mineralität, grosse Länge, erstklassiges Tannin. superb, 19 Punkte in Griffweite.*

WeinWisser – 18/20 pts – TB: *Der rote Domaine de Chevalier hat eine schwarze, viskose Farbe. Süßlich, intensiv und schokoladig erzeugt er viel Cabernet-Merlot-Würze im Geruch, mit massiver Extraktsüße und schönem, schmelzigem Holz. Straff, druckvoll und konzentriert, ist er sehr klar und kraftvoll auf der Zunge. Ein konzentrierter, wuchtig verdichteter Pessac-Léognan mit krasser Rasse und hoher Konzentration. Viel Merlot- Schmelz und ätherische Cabernet-Nuancen im Nachhall.* – 02/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JH: *80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Very dark, almost black at the core. Seductive black fruit on the nose. Richer than most in this line-up of 2021s but still with a dark restraint. Firm, chewy, chalky tannins. Very dry but not drying. There's elegance to the Cabernet here but it is not a wine for hedonists.* - 11/2023

quarin.com – 93 pts - JMQ: *Belle couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr, pur et suave. Délicat en entrée de bouche, parfumé au milieu, caressant dans son déroulé, le vin s'étire en finale raffiné et aromatique, sans marquer le tannin. Bonne longueur. Assemblage : 80 % cabernet sauvignon, 10 % merlot, 5 % petit verdot, 5 % cabernet franc. Degré d’alcool : 13° - pH : 3,62. Vin non saigné. Rendement : 30 hl/ha*

JamesSuckling.com – (95-96) pts - JS: *A medium-bodied DC with a pretty core of ripe fruit that shows licorice, blackberry and some currant character. Spice box, too. Very long, with fine tannins and plenty of energy.*

Vinous.com – 94+ pts – AG: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier comes across as quite shy and reticent in this vintage. The aromatics are beguiling, but on the palate, the wine feels a bit strict and clamped down. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, spice, mint and blood orange emerge, but only with great reluctance. It will be interesting to see how the 2021 develops over time. Tasted twice.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 93 pts – NM: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier has a beautifully defined bouquet with blackberry, pencil box and light oyster shell scents that gradually unfurl in the glass. This is unashamedly classic in style but not old-fashioned. The palate is very well defined with a taut line of acidity, very fresh and focused, revealing just a dab of black pepper and clove toward the finish. This is a succinctly styled Domaine de Chevalier that will age gracefully in bottle.* - 11/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 95 pts – JL: *Medium-bodied, energetic, soft, elegant, and refined, this is a beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Texturally, this is where the wine shines with its silky qualities blended with ample lift, purity and freshness. This is quite an accomplishment for any vintage, but with the challenging 2021, it is really saying something! The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, making this one of the highest percentages of Cabernet even used in the blend here. The is the first vintage that was produced being 100% biodynamic in the vineyards, thus, yield were quite low.. Drink from 2025-2050.* - 03/2024