Domaine de Chevalier 2003

This evolved 2003 exhibits lots of smoky barbecue spices intermixed with notes of cedarwood, underbrush, damp forest, plums and figs. Medium-bodied, fully mature and relatively complex, it requires consumption over the next 4-5 years.

Intense aromas of blackberry, cherry, tobacco and milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful finish of ripe fruit and light earth. Very balanced and refined. Delicious already. Best after 2010. 7,500 cases made.

88-90 This is a very ripe, concentrated wine, with delicious sweet, black fruits. It is attractively balanced, showing tarry flavors, dark plums and a finishing touch of spice.

Heady and evocative on the nose, you can tell immediately this is from a hot vintage. A little subdued, dried spices, sunny fruit, charred toast and caramel. Thick and round, a little severe and straight, quite toasted too, lots of black liquorice and warming spices but there is a cool undercurrent of freshness and blue fruits which doesn't make this too heavy. It's almost lean in its precision and focus, there's control here, but the elements don't quite go together. Acidity isn't so prominent, and this feels a little atypical, but there's signature mineral flint and liquorice on the finish and you can taste the alcohol too. lots of minerality. Direct and streamlined, just something a bit pinched and severe about it. Not so generous or easy at this point, but equally it's not fleshy, too ripe, flabby and plush and there's still life there.

I am loving the nose of white peaches, plums, and milk chocolate. So yummy. Full and juicy, with velvety tannins and a lovely freshness. Really charming, friendly, and enjoyable, but will still improve with age. Pull the cork after 2013.

Quite a pale rim already. Very light nose. Soft and round and sweet. Lightly drying tannins on the end actually add some welcome punctuation. (Average group score: 14.9) (JR)

Full red. Plum, tobacco, leather, cedar and smoked meat on the nose. Fresh and aromatic in the mouth, with impressive retention of fruit for this superripe vintage. The flavors of red plum, tobacco, cocoa, mocha and spices really caress the palate. A spicy, firmly tannic but round midweight, with suave tannins and very good freshness for the year.

More interesting with its perfumed scents of tobacco, earth, cigar box, dark cherry and spicy nose than on the medium bodied, refined, soft, dark cherry filled palate. There is no sensation of jam or over ripeness in the wines character. This is probably close to fully mature as its already delivering most of its charm.

Medium garnet-purple color with a lighter rim. Delicate bouquet with subtle toasty notes, lactic hints, and a touch of butter. Creamy, very refined palate with silky tannins, cherry and wild raspberry notes, almost perfumed; a discreet earthy note in the extract currently disrupts the harmony. Medium-length finish.

04: Medium garnet-purple with a lightening rim. Delicate, finely toasty bouquet, showing lactic tendencies and thus a certain buttery touch on the nose. Creamy, very refined palate, silky tannins, cherry and wild raspberry notes, almost perfumed; a discreet stone-fruit pit nuance in the extract that currently disrupts the harmony; medium-length finish. (17/20). 13: In itself it’s quite a great wine, but somehow, in addition to the 2003 sweetness, it also has that caramel-like barrel sweetness. At the moment it feels easy-drinking and a bit too full-bodied.

Velvety, fine, opulent, full bouquet with toasted notes, blue and black berries, and cedar. An balanced, dense, elegant, aromatic palate with a tight, silky structure, powerful aromatics, good fruit, fine tannins, and a very long, full finish. 18/20 drink through 2030

The nose could be riper. Pleasant, fruity palate with no harshness, but light-bodied.