Domaine de CHEVALIER 2018

Description

Jane Anson  96 points  www.decanter.com (at Bordeaux, 10 Nov 2020)
Lovely rich depth to the nose. This is a successful wine with balance, power and elegance. Subtle with a ton of complexity: blackberry and autumnal fruits, touches of hedgerow, slate, chocolate and crushed stone, with sweet raspberry purée as it opens up. Just a lovely wine that you would be very happy to own. One-third new oak. Maintained its success from en primeur. Drinking Window 2024 – 2045

Jean-Marc Quarin 95 points www.quarin.com
Couleur rouge, très sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité, pur et noble. Minutieux à l’attaque, suave au développement, très aromatique en milieu de bouche, le vin fond sur une texture dense et un corps juteux. Finale longue, savoureuse, sur un grain fin. C’est très bon. Assemblage : 65 % cabernet sauvignon, 30 % merlot, 5 % petit verdot. Degré d’alcool : 13°8 – pH : 3,68.

Antonio Galloni 94-97 points www.vinous.com
The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier is magnificent. Bright, lifted and wonderfully nuanced, the 2018 has so much to offer. Olivier Bernard turned out a dazzling Domaine de Chevalier in 2018 that speaks to precision and nuance above all else. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and crushed rocks add striking aromatic top notes to this stunning, breathtakingly beautiful wine. The tannins need time to soften, but I doubt readers will be in a rush. The 2018 is simply majestic – that’s all there is to it. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown 94-96+ points www.robertparker.com/
This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier starts a little closed before bounding out of the glass with bold expressions of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, black raspberries and fragrant earth plus nuances of lilacs, Sichuan pepper and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate maintains elegance and sophistication, with a lovely ripe, finely grained frame and plenty of freshness to back up the floral and black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.

Yves Beck 95-97 points www.yvesbeck.wine  (Dégusté le 2 novembre 2020)
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Rouge grenat dense. Belle intensité olfactive avec un très bon équilibre entre l’élevage et les notes fruitées. Invitantes nuances de grenadine, de menthe et de bois de réglisse. Caractère séduisant en bouche où des tannins juteux et suaves créent la symbiose avec l’acidité. Ce vin a du pep, du corps et un bien bel avenir devant lui.  2026-2048

Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points www.jebdunnuck.com
Possibly one of the finest wines ever to come from the Bernard family’s flagship estate near Léognan, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that hit 13.5% alcohol and will spend 18 months in just 35% new French oak. Its saturated purple/plum color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of cassis, black currants, gravelly earth, smoked herbs, and tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, brilliantly balanced, and seriously concentrated, it has polished tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years.