| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A glorious wine from Domaine de Chevalier, this 2005 reveals notes of graphite, subtle charcoal, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a long, multi-dimensional finish. This is a killer effort from the Bernard family, who own this famous terroir in Pessac-Léognan. Drink it over the next 20-30 years. Drink 2015 - 2045.
The Domaine de Chevalier 2005 has a powerful and quite burly bouquet with sumptous black fruit laced with truffle, cedar and a touch of juniper berry. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. This is an effortless Graves, beautifully proportioned with the oak seamlessly integrated. It builds in the mouth and fans out wonderfully with a kiss of black pepper on the structured, masculine finish. Clearly, this is one of Olivier Bernard's finest achievements under his reign. Drink 2017 - 2045
Firm plum in colour, this grabs you straight off the bat. A beautifully rich nose, still young with a relatively closed tannic frame, will open further over the next few years, but the silky depths to the texture are clear. Packed with liqourice, black cherry, cassis, cooling mint freshness that reallly draws out the palate, this is pure class, up there with the all time greatest Chevaliers. A clear buy - and if you already own it, get ready to enjoy. Harvest September 26 to October 12.
Tasted blind. Keenly shaded ruby. Light, fragrant and biscuity on the nose. Edge of iron filings and liquorice. Stony finish. Interesting. More fluid than most. Then tannins underneath.
Drink 2017-2040
Ripe dark fruit and spice and a little leathery and minty. Smooth tannins finish dry and fresh. Attractive purity and lightness of touch as it lingers. Date tasted 15th April 09.
Good red-ruby. Plum, flint, smoke, tobacco, menthol and nutty oak on the nose. Fat, sweet, plummy and rich; offers unusual volume for this property, not to mention terrific depth of flavor. A large-scaled, very supple Domaine de Chevalier that finishes with substantial ripe tannins. This should evolve slowly but should be less austere in its youth than the wines made here before Stephane Derenoncourt was brought in as consultant.
Real poise and elegance. Fine nose with a beautiful pitch of fruit. Depth and intensity. Palate rich, smooth, even a touch of opulence with fine, silky tannins and great length. Drink 2014-2030
Came 45th out of 184 wines
Perhaps the finest wine made at this estate in many years (no doubt due to the influence of wine consulting guru Stephane Derenoncourt), the 2005 is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with tiny portions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. A dark ruby/purple hue is followed by a classic Graves bouquet of charcoal, graphite, creosote, smoked herbs, sweet black cherries, and spice box. The wine is elegant on the attack, but fills out beautifully with a multilayered, rich mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a plush, opulent finish. This brilliant claret may turn out to be even better than my score suggests. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030+.
Now consulting at Domaine de Chevalier, Stephane Derenoncourt appears to have tamed the blatant oakiness evident in previous vintages as the 2005 is one of the strongest efforts from this estate in many years. The final blend, 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was cropped at a low 43 hectoliters per hectare. This deep ruby/purple-tinged wine possesses more texture and richness than usual, yet retains a delicate elegance as well as a superb fragrance (red cherries, smoked herbs, spice, graphite, and charcoal), a sweet, savory, expansive mid-palate, neither the structure nor muscle of the Northern Medocs, but silky tannins and a long finish. It should be drinkable in 5-6 years, and last for 20-25. Impressive!
This beauty offers a strong argument that this may be the finest Domaine de Chevalier since the 1970. Stephane Derenoncourt, who was hired as the winemaking consultant, has built in more texture while retaining the terroir’s tell-tale elegance and fragrance. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, black currants, cherries, smoked herbs, and spice. With soft tannin, medium to full body, beautiful opulence, impressive purity, and abundant tannin, it may close down after bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
Lots of plum, raspberry and mineral aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Very balanced and refined.
Very dark crimson. Broad spread of aromas - really rather like Petrus in that respect (though not in build). Classic, non-showy palate that has a notable charge of tannins. Very clean and bracing but with a most impressive nose. 13%
Drink 2018-2040
Juicy fruit without any exaggeration though not great refreshment. Solid and pretty chewy on the end. May have underestimated this wine
Very dark crimson. Sweet, dark cherry notes. Broad spread of ripe fruit - very worked and flattering. The tannins are notably riper than in most wines of this appellation and almost unnoticeable. A crowd-pleaser - quite big and full-on. Drink 2015-28.
