Domaine de Chevalier 2015

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier has turned out even better than I expected. Bright floral notes give striking aromatic lift to the rich, sumptuous fruit. A marvelously complete wine, the 2015 is racy and silky on the palate, yet also has tremendous freshness. Bright red cherry, blood orange, white pepper, spice and dried flowers build into the super-expressive finish. The 2015 has been nothing less than stunning the three times I have tasted it so far. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Olivier Bernard and his team. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. 2022 - 2045

The 2015 Domaine de Chevalier has a perfumed, quite floral bouquet with rose petals and cedar infusing the red berry fruit, nicely detailed with blacker fruit uncovered by aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, sweet and rounded, very plush in style with a caressing, femme fatale of a finish. I have actually encountered better bottles than this, though it remains a class act. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

This shows class and finesse with ultra-fine tannins and succulent fruit. Full body yet elegant and long. Gorgeous wine. Such length. Vibrant and focused.

Deep garnet in color, the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of baked black cherries, redcurrant jelly, and plum preserves with suggestions of unsmoked cigars, tapenade, and rosehip tea. The medium-bodied palate has intense red and black berry preserves layers with a firm structure of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Drink 2024-2049.

Tasted blind. Neat and luscious and sweet. Very slightly tarty. But it beguiles. Much richer than most previous vintages.
Drink 2024-2040

This much respected property in Pessac-Léognan is run with great care by Olivier Bernard whose family took it over from Claude Ricard in 1983. During the 1980s and 1990s there was a programme of replanting and it is only since the early 2000's, with the vines reaching maturity, that the quality here has returned to that of the great vintages of the 1960s and before. Without doubt, the best vintages of Chevalier are the most recent ones. Domaine de Chevalier performs brilliantly every year now, but prices have remained reasonable. Also one of our best-selling wines en primeur. The blend of the 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby colour with a fresh blackcurrant and graphite nose with a hint of black truffle and tobacco. The palate is smooth, refined and elegant with classic Graves cedar and blackcurrant. The tannins are refined and smooth but firm enough to frame the palate. The sweet vanilla and nutmeg from new oak adds a layer of complexity and gives a touch of sweetness to the long finish.

I was able to taste the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier twice and it showed sensationally both times. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was harvested between October 1st and October 15th, this deep ruby/purple-colored effort has soaring aromatics of caramelized black cherries, cassis, lead pencil shavings, and forest floor. Deep, full-bodied, intense and beautifully pure, with fine tannin and moderate acidity, it’s a gorgeous Pessac-Leognan that needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will evolve for three decades. 2022 - 2052

Bright and fresh the nose has fragrance and bright black fruits the start of the palate a mix of bilberry and bramble. Rich and ripe in the middle the fruit underpinned by fine tannins but it fills out at the back supple and ripe with sweet fruit giving depth on the finish.

Outperformed (only just) by some of its neighbours in 2015, but Domaine de Chevalier is still
hard to beat for value and consistency. Firm and smoky with a carapace of tannin concealing
the plummy, fruitcake-like flavours beneath. The acidity brings freshness to the finish.
Drink: 2022-35

Dense, briary and full, there is an extra dimension of power and extraction here which is impressive and very well
handled because it leads with fruit and not oak and the tannins are juicy and mouth-watering and not dry or astringent.
Gentle handling is the key here and even though this is a big wine is it still impeccably balanced.

Hedonistic and ripe nose - blackcurrants, strawberries and plums, with lots of floral fragrance, sticky black liquorice and tobacco. Sweet, succulent and juicy, so pleasing and easy to enjoy this from the first sip. Juicy but not too much, with a really mineral salty, liquorice and flint understone from the very beginning. Lean and straight, a lovely direction and persistence from start to finish. Tannins are firm, and filling, though this has an almost understated element to it, the 2015 isn't trying too hard, it's sleek and smooth. Tannins are perfectly integrated and this carries a lovely weight on the palate. Drinking so generously and so easy, more round and playful than the 2016 at this point. Bright, fresh, pure, gentle, charming, with great estate signature. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drink 2023-2045.