Domaine de Chevalier 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpurgranat. Betörendes Brombeerbouquet gepaart mit verführerischem Veilchenduft, dahinter Schokopralinen und rote Grütze. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit viel Souplesse und enormem Tiefgang. Im aromatischen nicht aufhörenden Finale ein Feuerwerk aus blaubeeriger Frucht, viel Cassis und einem Hauch Kokos. Grandioser Domaine de Chevalier dieses Jahr, auf dem Weg zur höheren Wertung, der besonders bei Sammlern, die Finesse suchen, Anklang finden wird."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Domaine De Chevalier is a beauty. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in 35% new French oak, it has a beautiful sense of elegance and purity, which is very much in the style of the vintage as well as the domaine. Blackcurrants, black cherries, cold fireplace, damp earth, tobacco, and chocolate are just some of the nuances here, and this complex, medium to full-bodied 2018 has gorgeous tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It has suppleness in its texture that allows it to offer pleasure even today, yet given its balance as well as purity, it deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 30+ years. It is another brilliant wine from the team of Olivier Bernard."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Clearly the finest vintage of Domaine de Chevalier ever produced, this beauty has it all. The captivating perfume with all its smoke, earth, spice, tobacco infused, ripe, red and dark red fruits, tar, cigar box, thyme and espresso scents is close to off the charts. With the 2018 you find unheard of levels of concentration with everything in balance. The fruits are generous, silky and pure. The refined, elegant finish just goes on and on. With aging, this could merit an even higher score in the years to come. . Olivier Bernard calls this the best vintage of Domaine de Chevalier he has ever produced and he is right! The wine is made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot."

DECANTER: "Lovely rich depth to the nose. This is a successful wine with balance, power and elegance. Subtle with a ton of complexity: blackberry and autumnal fruits, touches of hedgerow, slate, chocolate and crushed stone, with sweet raspberry purée as it opens up. Just a lovely wine that you would be very happy to own. One-third new oak. Maintained its success from en primeur. Drinking Window 2024 - 2045"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this wine shows its pedigree, richness and potential. Tannins are almost velvet in their texture while packing a fine punch and conveying plenty of longevity. The ripeness of the vintage balances with the structure. Drink the wine from 2027."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dreamy, with a velvety, caressing feel to a mix of warmed cassis, plum reduction and cherry preserve flavors that glide through slowly, but surely, letting anise, sweet tobacco and mineral accents peek in throughout. Very long, very refined. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier has a deep garnet-purple color, pouncing out of the glass with energetic scents of crushed blackcurrants, fresh, juicy blackberries and ripe plums, with suggestions of crushed rocks, bay leaves, unsmoked cigars and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with muscular black fruits, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and mineral laced. Give it another 4 years in bottle to flesh out and drink it over the next 25+ years."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feines Edelholz, tabakig unterlegte schwarze Waldbeerfrucht, reife Kirschen, etwas Havannatabak, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, elegant, ein Hauch von eingelegten Kirschen und Preiselbeeren, gut integrierte, tragende Tannine, mineralisch und anhaftend, ein finessenreicher Speisenwein, der seine Muskeln gut versteckt, sicheres Reifepotenzial. (2020–2050)"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Ripe and rather glorious with very bright fruit. Complete. Dry, stony finish. Rather 21st-century!"