Domaine de Chevalier 2019

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2019 Domaine de Chevalier is a magical wine in the making, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild plums, crushed blackcurrants and violets mingled with hints of pencil shavings, subtle spices and coniferous forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a vibrant core of fruit, beautifully refined tannins and lively acids, it's exquisitely elegant and harmonious, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. Stylistically, this wine exhibits a much closer affinity with the great Domaine de Chevalier of yesteryear than much of what was produced here in the early 2000s. It's a masterclass in what contemporary Bordeaux can deliver, and worth a special effort to seek out."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Beautiful, ripe redcurrants, bay leaf, violets and raspberries on the nose. Full-bodied with firm and very tight tannins that are polished and layered. Crushed stones highlight the beautiful blue fruit. Poised and refined. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc. Try after 2026."

WEINWISSER: "65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 5 % Petit Verdot. Undurchsichtiges, fast schwarzes Purpur. Ein betörendes Elixier mit Alpenheidelbeeren und frisch gepflückten Brombeeren, dahinter Lakritze, helles Malz und Milchschokolade. Am eleganten Gaumen mit super soften Tanninen und herrlicher Extraktsüsse, die Tannine wirken bereits integriert, dann schnellt der Wein dank der magischen Rasse nach vorne und umschmeichelt den kompletten Mundraum. Im anmutigen Finale mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, Wacholder und zarter, kakaoartiger Adstringenz. Qualitätsfanatiker Olivier Bernard zeigt wieder einmal sein ganzes Können. Für Finessentrinker ein sicherer Wert, für alle anderen heisst es nur: KAUFEN! Kleiner Tipp am Rande, der L'Esprit de Chevalier ist dieses Jahr einer der besten Zweitweine aus der Appellation! Erinnert Olivier an 2016, 2001 – von nichts zu viel! Die Weine haben Balance!"

JEB DUNNUCK: "I loved the 2019 Domaine De Chevalier, which is unquestionably up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that saw just 35% new oak, it sports a dense purple hue as well as a killer, quintessential Graves bouquet of darker black fruits, scorched earth, truffle, cold fireplace, tobacco, and graphite. More medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has brilliant purity, ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's not a blockbuster but has this incredible sense of class, balance, and finesse while being rich and concentrated. It's a gorgeous wine, and wine lovers will adore being able to compare this side by side with the 2015, 2016, and 2018 over the coming 3-4 decades."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Elegant and refined, the wine is medium/full-bodied, and quickly focuses you on its core of smoky red pit fruits and berries, espresso, herbs, forest leaf and tobacco. Soft, polished and fresh, there is length, purity, energy, complexity and character here in spades which is all wrapped up perfectly with its silky tannins and soft, sexy, harmonious finish. This should age and evolve for at least 3 decades or more. Drink from 2029-2055."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The latest release of this legendary white wine comes from a mere 17 acres of the 165-acre vineyard. Wood aged and rich in ripe Sauvignon Blanc, the wine bursts with energy and white fruits, touched by spice and with a long aging ahead of it. Drink this wine from 2025."

DECANTER: "Herbal notes on the notes, some herbaceous and inviting fruitiness. I just love the pure expression here, the focus is definitely on delicious crunchy fruit, it's forward and expressive, shining quite brightly with the undercurrent of acidity, minty freshness and some chalky minerality. This feels like precise winemaking, good sculpting and confidence here, it's not trying to show off and instead exudes charm and elegance. Structured and layered with great freshness and charm. It has a gorgeous juicy quality which keeps things lively and refreshing while you know there's depth and power underneath. Will be excellent to age. An absolute crowd pleaser. Drinking Window 2027 - 2044"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine reife Pflaumenfrucht, zart nach Nougat, schwarze Kirschen, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten. Elegant, frische Kirschen, lebendige Struktur, gut integrierte reife Tannine, mineralisch und frisch, bereits zugänglich, sehr gute Länge, verfügt über Entwicklungspotenzial."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very lush and forward, with a lovely wave of warmed plum reduction, cassis and blackberry preserve flavors. Features a subtle rumble of dark earth and warm stone through the finish, where licorice and apple wood accents also peek in. Delivers spine for form, but this is going to provide its best showing in the medium-term, as the fruit is so precocious. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2035. 10,000 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Fresh and frank. Not overworked. Savoury finish with signs of top-quality oak. Interesting! Difficult to spit because it’s so appetising and well balanced. Long."