Domaine de Chevalier 2022

Deep, with noble roasted aromas, plenty of dark fruit, dried violets, smoke, dark chocolate; compact palate, very structured, masses of tannins, showing opulence, fullness, elegance and excellent length; red-fruited and spicy, saline on the finish. Great potential.

Dark, brooding, perfumed nose of liquorice, bitter chocolate and blackcurrants. Juicy and filling, with wonderful texture, depth and balance. Salty, mineral finish with crisp edges adding tension. Smooth yet structured, with acidity and texture in harmony. A delicious, ready-to-drink wine that shouldn’t be missed.

This is extremely long and polished with beautiful silky tannins that keep rolling down the palate. Medium-bodied, it shows currants, blackberries, minerals and crushed stones. Crunchy. Such finesse and structure at the same time. An honest and transparent wine with greatness. Drink after 2029.

The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier has a very nuanced and classy bouquet, beautifully defined with the oak seamlessly integrated. Black fruit, tobacco and light gravelly scents. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins, very pure fruit, fleshy but there is still real structure and focus on the finish. Very classy, very sophisticated. Tasted twice blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Silk and velvet, power, elegance, length, and purity are what you find here. Supple, creamy, refined, and most importantly energetic, this is stunning from start to finish. The fruits are perfectly ripe, precise, and deep. The cherry and plummy finish resonates, builds, and expands as it lingers. The purity expressed in the fruits, with their silky textures, balance, and harmony, defines the wine. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Collectors should note that with this vintage, bottles will feature a special label celebrating Olivier Bernard's 40th vintage at Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2029–2060.

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Domaine De Chevalier is beautiful, with a 2009-like style in its spicy red and black fruits, tobacco, new leather, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Chevalier that has a supple, layered mouthfeel, beautifully polished tannins, and just about flawless balance. It's not massive or over the top in any way and excels on its balance and complexity. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, drink this seamless, sexy, already approachable 2022 over the coming 30-40 years.

Medium to full intensity, clear depth of colour as is typical in the vintage, with lovely soft ruby nuances throughout. This is still young, more folded in on itself than many wines in 2022, with character, finesse, and the ability to age — one to recommend. It maintains the estate signature, packed with sage and clove spices, touches of incense, toast, olive paste, and crayon. Yield of 40 hl/ha, 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard.

The nose is aromatic, concentrated, indulgent and roasted, with an excessive spicy and toasty edge (licorice, vanilla, star anise, grilled vanilla, toasted hazelnut, dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee). There are also ripe fruits (morello cherry, roasted red cherry, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry, blackberry, blackcurrant), a savory and gourmand herbal side (dried bay leaf, peppermint), and notes of dried flowers (violet, fresh peony, with a sweetening touch). The palate opens with a toasty, chocolatey attack, with a tangy hint of cocoa nibs, toasted hazelnut and toasted almond, even chocolate-coated almond, sweet flowers and sweet vanilla. Then come notes of morello cherry, roasted red cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, blackberry and blackcurrant, licorice, vanilla and star anise. Richness with elegance, fine power and harmony. The tannins are velvety, firm and enveloping. Lovely refreshing acidity.

Beautiful dark red, slightly evolved. An intense, refined, fruity and subtle nose. Wonderfully graceful on the palate, developing with savoury notes into a finish that’s a touch lively and stricter than the softness felt on entry and through the mid-palate. Melting texture.

A red wine with lovely fresh fruit marked by blueberry notes on the nose. On the palate, the tannins are firm and well-integrated, without astringency, offering a light structure. The finish, discreet and minimalist, reflects a gravelly terroir with natural drainage, but lacks expressiveness to fully captivate.

Sports a wonderfully polished core of cassis and cherry reduction, while the vintage's telltale notes of warm cast iron, bay and tobacco fill in throughout. Violet and singed chestnut accents check in for added range and length. A pure, deep, lengthy and authoritative expression of Péssac. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2042. 9,000 cases made.

A decidedly maritime character, carried by a salty breeze and scents of Mediterranean pine, with a superb resinous touch. On the palate, it’s a truly sensual caress that stretches on endlessly, awakening the senses to the point of giving goosebumps. Exquisite indulgence, allied to dazzling freshness and remarkable length. Dark red fruits speak with opulence, evoking the silky luxury of velvet curtains.

Dark chocolate and tobacco aromas and ripe black fruits show the class of this wine. It is succulent, sustained by wood aging and sure to age well. Owned by the Bernard family, this estate is among the elite of the appellation. Drink from 2028.