2017 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge

Description

96    James Suckling
“Lots of blueberry, hot-stone, slate and walnut aromas. Terracotta, too. Iodine. Full-bodied, round and dense with layers of fine tannins. Lovely depth and intensity. Extremely long and focused. Needs three or four years of bottle age just to start.” (1/2020)

95    Jeb Dunnuck
“A gem that readers should snatch up is unquestionably the 2017 Domaine De Chevalier, which is based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in just 35% new French oak. This deeply colored effort offers classic blackberry and blackcurrant fruits as well as medium to full body, complex notes of tobacco, gravelly earth, and chocolate, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This is a classy, flawlessly balanced 2017 that offers up pleasure even today, yet it will keep for 30+ years. Having just had the good fortune to drink a bottle of the 1920, now at 100 years after the vintage, the longevity of this cuvée should not be underestimated.” (2/2020)

94    Jane Anson for Decanter
“This stands out among many of the Pessacs this year, with plenty of depth on evidence, and a more obvious personality than most. The liquorice root, cigar and grilled almond notes are perfectly woven through the cassis and bilberry fruit, and here you can feel a slight ripple through the palate, while the tannins have presence and are alive. This feels poised, like it can stretch its wings and go the distance. A great job in this vintage.” (4/2018)

94    Lisa Perrotti-Brown for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2017 Domaine de Chevalier is deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of baked plums, black cherry compote, fruitcake and violets plus wafts of fragrant earth and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the palate has loads of fruit with plush, rounded tannins and a lively finish. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, this vintage spent 18 months in French oak, 35% new. ” (3/2020)

94    Wine Enthusiast
“Packed with ripe fruit, this shows juicy blackberry and spice flavors. They are balanced with the core of dry tannins that will allow this fruity, structured wine to age.” (1/2020)

94    James Molesworth for Wine Spectator
“Ripe and full in feel, with a swath of cassis, plum paste and fig preserve flavors that holds sway from start to finish, allowing roasted apple wood, licorice snap and black tea accents to chime in along the way. The fruit takes a solid encore on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.” (3/2020)

93    Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2017 Domaine de Chevalier was impressive from barrel. Bottled since June 2019, it has clearly retained that gorgeous nose with delineated scents of blackberry, black olive, shucked oyster shells and orange rind. Wonderful vigour here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, lithe and very focused. It is not a powerful nor indeed a long-term Domaine de Chevalier, ergo my lower score than 2016. Bottom line is that it is just a delicious wine to consume. Still, it will offer 20 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted twice with consistent notes.” (2/2020)