Domaine de Chevalier 2022

JAMES SUCKLING: "Wow. This is incredibly structured and powerful with ultra-fine tannins that are tight and layered. It’s full and powerful with carved muscles of tannins. This will need so much time."

JEB DUNNUCK: "As to the Grand Vin 2022 Domaine De Chevalier, this awesome Graves is based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Vinified in a mix of concrete and wood tanks, with a portion seeing malolactic fermentation in barrel, it offers a deep purple/ruby hue as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoke tobacco, and damp earth. Reminding me of a supercharged version of the 2016, it's full-bodied and has a layered, silky mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Released with a new, one-off label, the 2022 celebrates Olivier Bernard's 40th year at the château, and it's certainly a wine worth seeking out."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out of the glass with show-stopping scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and redcurrant preserves, leading to suggestions of candied violets, cinnamon stick, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled, with bright, nuanced black and red berry layers beautifully supported by fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, leading to a very long and perfumed finish on this stunning wine. pH 3.64."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Almost opaque in color, the wine is equally dark in the nose with black cherries, black berries, black plums, licorice, Cuban cigar wrappers, smoke, burning wood and cocoa. Silky, elegant, plummy, rich and loaded with chocolate-covered, dark pit fruits, espresso and black cherries. There is intensity as well as silkiness and energy in the long finish. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV, 3.60 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 28. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Condition in the vineyards were extremely dry with only 30 MM of rain during the summer, making this the estates driest vintage in history. This is also the second 100% biodynamically farmed vintage. More importantly, bottles will feature a special label celebrating 2022 as it was Olivier Bernard's 40th vintage at Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2027-2055."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point."

WEINWISSER: "65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 3 % Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc. Delikates Bouquet mit blaubeerigen Konturen, tasmanischem Bergpfeffer, Brasiltabak und edler Cassiswürze. Am sublimen, engmaschigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und körnigem Extrakt, ziemlich straff und muskulös, getragen von tiefgründiger Mineralik und reifem kakaoartigem Tanningerüst. Im gebündelten Finale Wildkirsche, Estragon und erhabene Adstringenz. Ein klassischer Domaine de Chevalier, der mit Tiefe und Finesse punktet. 2029 – 2054."

DECANTER: "Lovely detail and precision with plump, ripe fruit, good concentration and intensity, mouthfilling tannins that have a lovely texture and overall length. Feels really well made, structured and vibrant , not taken too far with a really appealing flavour and texture. Just lovely, fresh, lifted, still concentrated with underlying power but delivered seamlessly. A brilliant compelling utterly moreish wine. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. A yield of 40hl/ha."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe. zarte Randaufhellung. Feines Bukett nach Gewürzen und reifen Kirschen, ein Hauch von Brombeere, Cassis und frischen Orangenzesten, zarte Edelholzwürze. Komplex, saftig und elegant, gute Frische, reife Tannine, schokoladig-mineralisch im Abgang, sehr gute Länge, vielversprechend und mit Potenzial ausgestattet."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson. Intensely mineral, highly distinctive, nose. Very different from the sweet fruit-bombs elsewhere. Racy and likely to age well in the Dom de Chevalier tradition. Sinewy but by no means meagre. Very much its own style. Cool and fresh but with fruit that is quite ripe enough and massively mineral. Intense with lots tucked in there for future development. Clean, fresh, appetising finish."

VINUM: "Sehr ausbaugeprägt; fleischiger Ansatz, fruchtige Entwicklung; langes, knackiges Finale; besitzt Rasse, Saft und Klasse."