Domaine de Chevalier 2001

Note: Due to space limitations, no tasting notes have been included, only my qualitative score. Obviously, the 2001 dry whites are extremely long-lived wines. They can be drunk young or cellared for 20–30+ years. I recently had the pleasure of tasting the 1962 Domaine de Chevalier, which was still incredibly fresh and lively. In many ways, these whites age even more slowly than red Bordeaux.

Oliver Bernard said the decade of the 2000s was the most difficult for him to decide what to bring to the tasting – so many are of excellent quality and ready to drink. This makes it doubly disappointing that this particular bottle has suffered from oxidation – evident in the colour and in the lack of precision of the flavours. It’s really a shame and I have no doubt that another bottle would be far better, as this is a particularly brilliant vintage for white wines (this type of experience, he says, is one of the reasons they have now moved over to Diam cork for both their red and white wines). I wouldn't give up on this vintage, but this was not the bottle to show it off.

With coaxing, lemon, spring flowers, wax, honey and vanilla scents became evident. Medium to full-bodied with elegant, refined textures, the wine ends with a sweet, fresh finish filled with vanilla and citrus.

Very pale yellow with a greenish sheen. Complex, dense nose with many layers, gorgeous mint notes, hints of citrus, concentrated. Rich, compact extract with ripe acidity already beautifully integrated; the finish shows lime zest and again gooseberry, very long-lasting. As always, vinified at a top level and highly age-worthy.

02: Very pale yellow with a greenish sheen. Complex, dense bouquet; highly layered with lovely mint tones and citrus hints – comes across as concentrated. Rich, compact extract with ripe acidity already beautifully integrated; the finish shows lime zest and again gooseberry, very long-lasting. As always, vinified at top level and very age-worthy. (18/20). 09: At a dinner at Domaine de Chevalier. The first bottle was strawy, the second then fresh and great. 10: Again rather strawy and with little life from a magnum at the estate.

Fruity, velvety, fresh, and complex bouquet with citrus, almonds, pistachios, and vanilla. Velvety, full, fresh, and elegant palate with dense fruit, fine, fresh acidity, dense, full aromatics, caramel. Very long, full, dense finish. 19/20 drink – 2030

Very fresh, youthful and lively on the palate, it still feels vigorous and is evolving with grace and balance. The palate, with delicate notes of white fruits and fresh mint, with a hint of honey, is remarkably precise. Very long.

Pale yellow color. On the nose, small hints of wood and honey. Acacia. Delicate. A bit fresher with aeration, but a slight oxidative note—undetectable in 2002—is present. Lovely attack on the palate, rich and caressing, unfolding into a juicy, flavorful, and fairly powerful body. After mid-palate, the tannin and oak come back to tease the fruit, and the wine indeed finishes more tannic. Nice mocha length, slightly lively.

This is one of the legendary whites of Bordeaux. It lives up to its reputation. The 2001 vintage of the Domaine de Chevalier white (tasted from half bottle) is well-evolved, packed with flavors of almonds, toast, spice, fresh grapefruits, white fruits and an impressive layer of acidity. It will age for a good 20 years or more. Expect a full bottle to be less evolved at this stage.