2023 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge - Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – PK: *Cool blue fruit and tobacco leaf denote this wine, which packs almost Pauillac like power in 2023, not as overtly charming as it can be. The mid palate depth seems a bit coiled in with some standoffish tannins, but overall brisk and true to the style of the estate, if not a 'sunny vintage' on the palate. In short, a serious Domaine de Chevalier red that needs at least five years of cellaring to fully reward you.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, etwas Nelken, Lakritze, dunkle Beerenfrucht, etwas Kirschen, kandierte Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerige Frucht, würzig, saftig, reife Tannine, mineralisch und frisch, feine Adstringenz im Nachhall, lebendig wirkend, braucht noch seine Zeit.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 94/100 pts: *Tiefgründig, rauchig, komplex, dunkle Frucht, Tabak, Mokka, florale Noten; dichter Gaumen, bleibt elegant, saftige Frucht, markantes, feines Tannin, eindrückliche Länge; gehört zum Besten, was die Appellation dieses Jahr in Rot zu bieten hat.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20 pts – GL, TW: *65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 5 % Petit Verdot, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 30 hl/ha, 13 Vol.-%. Delikates Bouquet, frischgepflückte rote Kirschen, heller Tabak, Nelken, edle Cassiswürze. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, feinkörnigem Extrakt, straffer Ausrichtung und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale rotbeerige Konturen, dunkle Mineralik und eine edle Bitterness. Ein charaktervoller, noch Zeit brauchender Domaine de Chevalier mit Lagerpotenzial.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5/20pts – JL: *65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Crimson hue. Pretty red-berry nose with a touch of vanilla oak. Tannins supple and refined. Length on the finish. Elegant in style but not quite at the top of its game.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier is beautifully resonant in the glass. Deep, layered and quite persistent, the 2023 has so much to offer. In many vintages, this red needs time to be at its best, but this edition has enough forward fruit to make me think it will drink well with minimal cellaring, even if the acids remain brisk. Graphite, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and rose petal build into the tense, saline-infused finish. The 2023 is all finesse.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – NM: *The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from September 7 to 30 and contains 13% alcohol. This is quintessential "DdC" on the nose: black fruit, /sous-bois/ and hints of black olive at first, subtle marine notes emerging with time in the glass. There’s wonderful focus and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pencil-shaving-tinged black fruit on the entry. Perhaps a bit grippier with more spine than one would expect (especially following the more sensual 2022), this is very traditional in style, with a tremendously long and satisfying saline finish. Superb.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (95-97) pts – JL: *Blackberries, back cherries, barbecue smoke, cedar, smoked mint, and cigar box aromatics create the perfume. The wine is chewy, fresh, long, concentrated, and complex. The finish is like eating peppery currants dripped over Cuban cigars. Long, spicy, and intense, this is a vintage that will benefit from time in the cellar. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.68 pH. The harvest took place September 7 - September 30. Yields are among the lowest in the appellation at 31 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2055.* - 05/2024