2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 94 pts – JA: *This clearly has focus and stone-fruit steely determination. Clear opulence and density if not quite the grip of this wine in the very best white vintages. Excellent white pepper spice as it opens.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Helles Gelbgrün, silberfarbene Reflexe. Gelbe Mangofrucht, Zitruszesten, ein Hauch von Vanille und Pfirsich, florale Nuancen, zart mit Blütenhonig unterlegt. Saftig, elegant, feine Fruchtsüße, rund und harmonisch, feine Säurestruktur, Honigmelone im Nachhall, bleibt haften, verfügt über Reifepotenzial.* - 02/2021

*The Domaine de Chevalier 2018 Blanc, a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon, slowly reveals beguiling scents of lemongrass, lime leaves, fresh grapefruit, allspice and ginger with a core of fresh lemon and grapefruit. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers bold citrus and spice layers with fantastic tension and a chalky finish. Aging on lees in barriques, 35% new, is anticipated to go for 16 months.* (93-95/100)

Vinum Magazin – 18/20pts: * Schon in der Nase von besonderer Klasse; sehr konzentriert im Mund und doch nicht schwerfällig, ungemein dicht, anhaltend, von mineralischer Länge,ungestüm und herrlich gehaltvoll.* - 06/2019

Weinwisser – 19/20pts - WL: *Helles Gelb. Verhaltenes, sehr finessenreiches Bouquet mit Schlüsselblumen und Weingartenpfirsich, dahinter Mirabellen. Am schlanken Gaumen mit pfeffrigem Extrakt und feinnerviger Textur. Zeigt mineralische Finesse. Im gebündelten Finale mit Pink Grapefruit und viel Mineralik, sehr straff vinifiziert von Beginn bis zum Ende. Gehört daher zu der Topliga der weissen Pessac-Léognan.* – 04/2019

*Lively lime pith, herb, green apple, fennel and verbena notes streak through. The very focused finish has good zing for the vintage. Defined and long, this will unwind a bit more slowly than most of its peers.—J.M.* (93-96/100)

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JR: *Diam 30 closure. Deeper straw colour than most. Broad and flattering on the nose. Lots of meatiness. Fine wine with depth and length. Quite Sauvignon-influenced but with real substance.* - 01/2022

JamesSuckling.com - 98pts - JS: *This has a complex nose of dried apple, green mango, grapefruit zest, dried honeysuckle and crushed almonds. It’s full-bodied with bright acidity and a dense, phenolic texture. Vivid and layered with fantastic precision. Very, very long. This needs time. Better from 2026.* - 01/2021

Vinous.com – 95 pts – AG: *The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has come together beautifully over the last two years. Rich and unctuous in feel, the 2018 offers terrific nuance to match its creamy, enveloping personality. Dried pear, marzipan, lemon confit and white flowers all build as the 2018 blossoms in the glass. The poised, deeply resonant finish is striking. I am so impressed with the 2018, a wine that is far more convincing in bottle than it was from barrel.* - 03/2021

Vinous.com - 93pts - NM: *The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has opened up since I tasted it from barrel; this half-bottle was allowed 30–45 minutes to open. It has a little more zip on the nose, the orchard fruit and touches of black currant and orange pith bursting from the glass. The palate is finely tuned with a superb bead of acidity, and more citric than the nose, still with that energy and tension and a light tang of marmalade and lemongrass toward the finish. While I maintain that it is not the best Domaine de Chevalier Blanc that I have ever encountered, it has gained more personality during its maturation and it should drink well for 20-plus years.* - 03/2021