2021 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge - Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classe

Bettane & Desseauve – (95-96) pts: *L’une des grandes réussites de l’appellation, avec de toute évidence des cabernets qui sont allés loin en maturité de raisin. Énergie, finesse aromatique, noblesse du tannin et du boisé. Tous les échantillons dégustés son parfaitement tirés.*

Decanter.com - 94 pts - GH: *Aromatic nose, perfumed black fruits, bramble tones and a touch of sweet spice. Round and mouthfilling, this has good density and depth for the vintage, tannins are on the juicy plump side with a dry grippy texture though satisfying not austere with the fruit powering through giving cherry and blackcurrant flavours. This has good persistency and doesn't let up - it's not a showstopper at this point but I love the quality of the fruit and the tannins and the lifted acidity as well as the darker more savoury elements of liquorice, black chocolate, graphite and smoked cedar that come in towards the end. Lots going on here with good potential. You get the impression nothing is hiding and I love that. Really the grapes and the terroir on show. A good success and will be interesting to taste in bottle. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Floral, einladende Nuancen von Cassis, schwarze Kirschen, etwas Lakritze, Mandarinenzesten, attraktives Bukett. Eher schlank, rote Kirschen, dezente Fruchtsüße, feine Tannine, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch-zitronig im Abgang, bereits gut entwickelt, verfügt über Reifepotenzial.*

The Wine Advocate – (93-95) pts – WK: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier is full of promise, bursting with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, bay leaf, licorice, potpourri and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, its velvety attack segues into a lively, layered core, concluding with a long, nicely defined finish. Olivier Bernard doesn't think that this will surpass his 2018, but I tend to disagree. The 2021 is a blend of fully 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.*

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20pts: *Zuerst recht holzgeprägt, dann fruchtiger; glasklarer Auftakt, geradlinige, besonders rassige und fruchtige Entwicklung, spürbare Mineralität, grosse Länge, erstklassiges Tannin. superb, 19 Punkte in Griffweite.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts – GL, TW: *63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 5 % Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 30 hl/ha. Betörendes Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, Nougatpralinen, getrocknete Rosenblätter und schwarzer tasmanischer Bergpfeffer. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, unglaublich dicht, balancierte Rasse mit engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und muskulösem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, dunkles Graphit und fein spröde Adstringenz.* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JR: *Deep purplish crimson. Savoury nose with something more complex than just fruit. Good density and depth though still a little oak evidence (hardly surprisingly). Tingly finish. Polished tannins. Really quite fine and not lacking anything. Bone dry and on the refreshing side but it really doesn’t taste like a wine from a less-than-successful vintage. Good weight and balance in the mouth. Refreshing but not austere.* - 04/2022

quarin.com – 93 pts - JMQ: *Belle couleur sombre et pourpre. Nez intense, au fruité mûr, pur et suave. Délicat en entrée de bouche, parfumé au milieu, caressant dans son déroulé, le vin s'étire en finale raffiné et aromatique, sans marquer le tannin. Bonne longueur. Assemblage : 80 % cabernet sauvignon, 10 % merlot, 5 % petit verdot, 5 % cabernet franc. Degré d’alcool : 13° - pH : 3,62. Vin non saigné. Rendement : 30 hl/ha*

JamesSuckling.com – (95-96) pts - JS: *A medium-bodied DC with a pretty core of ripe fruit that shows licorice, blackberry and some currant character. Spice box, too. Very long, with fine tannins and plenty of energy.*

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier was terrific both times I tasted it. Potent and driving, the 2021 dazzles with Cabernet Sauvignon intensity in its aromas, flavors and overall structure. Graphite, spice, menthol, spice, rose petals, mocha and flowers run through a core of red/purplish fruit. The Blanc gets most of the attention at Domaine de Chevalier, but these days I find the red more complete and more interesting.*

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from September 28 until October 15 at 30hL/ha. Tobaccoand sous-bois-infused black fruit unfurl with a sense of assuredness on the nose, the best example, a third bottle toward the end of my tastings, being the most delineated. This has energy rather than horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with pencil-lead-infused black fruit and a slightly powdery texture, certainly the most saline in recent years, leading to an almost Pauillac-inspired finish. Stylish and classic Domaine de Chevalier.*

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (93-95) pts – JL: *Deeply colored, initially you find flowers, black and dark red pit fruits, Indian spice, black pepper, cassis, and black currants on the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, sweet, fresh, and round, as well as a bit chewy, with loads of ripe berries accented with espresso and cocoa in the endnote. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, making this one of the highest percentages of Cabernet even used in the blend here. 13.% ABV. The harvest took place September 28 – October 15. Yields were low at only 30 hectoliters per hectare. This is the first vintage that was produced being 100% biodynamic in the vineyards. Drink from 2025-2048.*