2009 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge

Description

95   Jeb Dunnuck
“Up with some of the finest vintages of this cuvée, the 2009 Domaine de Chevalier is a classic blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up all in barrel. It’s a quintessential Graves and offers a wonderful sense of elegant and nuance while still showing beautiful depth and richness. Black cherries, plums, currants, forest floor, truffle, and cigar tobacco all emerge from this medium to full-bodied 2009 that has impressive freshness and purity, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s drinking nicely today yet has the capacity to evolve for another two decades or more.” (3/2019)

95   Robert Parker for Wine Advocate
“In late 2011, I had the last bottle in my cellar of the 1970 Domaine de Chevalier. Much to my surprise, it was still holding on to life and remained gorgeously complex in that ethereal Graves style. The 2009, one of the finest Domaine de Chevaliers yet produced, reveals a striking bouquet of burning embers, sweet cherry, black and red currant fruit, spice box, cedar and lead pencil shavings. The tannins are sweet in this fleshy, full-bodied offering. It is built on the notion of extraordinary harmony, elegance and complexity. While not the most concentrated or flamboyant 2009, its intense aromas are already reasonably evolved and its lusciousness and balance are terrific. Made from an interesting blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, its yields of 45 hectoliters per hectare were slightly higher than many of its neighbors achieved. Drink it over the next 25 years.” (12/2011)

95   Roger Voss for Wine Enthusiast
“Dominating aromas of smoky new wood follow through to the toasty flavor that covers the fruit at this stage. But, like all 2009s, this is a rich wine that will balance out and show all of its opulence. That said, it will likely always be a firm, ageworthy wine, with the dark tannins always in evidence.” *Cellar Selection* (9/2012)

94   Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2009 Domaine de Chevalier has a vivacious, almost exotic bouquet with lavish black fruit, mint, oregano and cedar that all gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, ripe black fruit laced with white pepper and even a faint touch of Szechuan pepper. This displays exquisite balance and the finish feels deep and satisfying, clearly born in a great vintage. Tasted blind at the Domaine de Chevalier vertical at the property.” (3/2019)