Domaine de Chevalier 2011

Domaine de Chevalier is a good barometer for the issues of the 2011 Pessac-Léognan, which clearly suffered more from drought stress. Despite excellent work and striving for the best possible result, no more than a respectable showing was achieved: the aromatics reflect limited ripeness, with lovely peony notes, and the tannins are well-balanced and supple.

A spectacular effort, especially for this challenging vintage, Olivier Bernard’s 2011 Domaine de Chevalier boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of subtle charcoal, graphite, black currants and black cherries. Rich and full-bodied with a multilayered mouthfeel and a long, complex, stunning finish, this is a profound example of a 2011 from a great terroir. Consume it over the next 20 years.

This is solidly built, featuring a full-bodied feel from the loam and tar frame, balanced by the depth of the plum, blackberry and fig core. Reveals a smoldering edge through the finish, with an echo of cocoa. Best from 2016 through 2028.

Dried herbs and flowers on the nose—evocative aromas. Supple and succulent on the palate, with lovely energy and bounce. The tannins are supple and juicy—really light, clean, pure—yet with texture and weight that make you want to drink this today and enjoy its youthful brightness, while still having grip and a softly chalky tannin texture. Great red-berry fruit, gentle fragrance. A great glass of wine, not trying too hard, yet still carrying texture, nuance, and the signature of the estate.

This is a rich wine for the vintage with mineral, raspberry and lemongrass character. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs three or four years to come together.

The nose, with its smoke, truffle, tobacco, blackberry, espresso roast and earthy complexities, is right up front. Medium-bodied, with fresh plum and cherries on the finish, this soft wine is already easy to drink.

I have rarely seen such a deep color in a barrel sample from this estate, an extremely dense purple-violet. Compact, concentrated bouquet, fresh fine woods, black bread, cherries and mulberries. Velvety, well-shaped body, already showing plenty of charm with gentle acidity and extremely charming tannins, totally black-berried with black cherry jelly on the long finish. Given the vintage’s reputation, Olivier Bernard and Rémy Edange have achieved an absolute masterpiece here. It can measure up to Haut-Brion, and it will be very interesting to compare the two in 10 years—and then again in 20 years!

Lactic, sweet, fruity bouquet, cherries, blackberries, herbs, mocha. Silky, elegant palate with fresh fruit, finely grained tannins, sweet aromatics, long, delicate finish. 17/20 drink - 2034

Opaque, deep color, intense red fruits, a deep, sappy body, firm tannins, vigor, length, and potential.

A medium-bodied wine, light, silky, gently extracted, with very pretty, elegant fruit.

What a beautiful fruity intensity that reveals so much freshness. This Domaine de Chevalier stands out for its fruit and for its palate attack, which is generous yet also endowed with a lovely balance between tannins and structure. It is already pleasurable to drink, though fairly powerful. It still needs a bit more time, but it is hard to resist.

Purple color. Fruity, ripe nose with a hint of resin and wet leather. The palate is particularly fruity, with a finely silky, lightly oily feel. The wine unfolds at length, with body and fine tannins. A fine success.

91-93. Barrel sample. This wine's concentrated tannins match the sweet fruit and ripe acidity. It shows structure and density, with its blackberry flavor already showing well.