Domaine de Chevalier 2023

The class and purity of this benchmark white Bordeaux comes through clearly, with aromas of sliced Asian pears, green apples, stones and undertones of iodine and oyster shells. Linear and bright, with verve and focus. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. Drinkable now, but better in 2028.

I loved this in barrel, and it's even better in the bottle, which is always a great sign. The bouquet bursts with a lively display of flowers, lemons, white peach, Granny Smith apples, vanilla, almonds, and a hint of pineapple, all blending into a rich aroma. The palate is lively, vibrant, and fresh, showcasing its vivid layers of sweet, juicy, creamy, and pure fruits, leaving you with a perfect touch of crushed stones and marine hints that make you want to take another sniff, swirl, and sip. You can enjoy this in its youth or age it for more complexity. Either way, it's a superb treat. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2026-2040.

Pale yellow-green, silver reflections. Fine yellow tropical fruit, notes of pineapple, guava and mango, a hint of meadow herbs, inviting, delicate bouquet. Juicy, elegant, fine fruit expression, pleasant acidity, good length, some ageing potential.

Slate, liquorice, graphite; this salty edge scrapes through the palate. A true long-ageing white with tremendous power and personality, finishing with the juiciest, most stunning length. 40 hl/ha yield, aged in 33% new oak. Olivier Bernard’s 40th harvest. Great palate presence. Tasted twice, +1 point.

Many nuances make up the bouquet of domaine de Chevalier. Most of them focus on freshness, with notes of mandarin zest, white-fleshed fruits (apples, pears) and grapefruit, followed by a tropical touch (passion fruit, fresh mango). Dense on the attack, the wine stands out for its breadth and its creamy texture, certainly due to its ageing, without the latter being obvious. A slight salinity adds to the freshness, while fine bitters extend the aromatic persistence. An elegant, savoury wine.

94-96. Barrel Sample. Toasty aromas and rich white and citrus fruits give a rich wine that comes with a fine pedigree. It is an impressive wine that shows considerable promise. It should age for many years.

Shows a stylish set of chamomile, honeysuckle and jasmine notes draped over a core of yuzu, yellow apple and mirabelle plum, while warm brioche and salted butter accents lend a flattering edge to the suave finish. Lovely. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2033. 2,100 cases made.

Ripe-fruited, with vineyard peach, grapefruit, lychee, honeydew melon, floral and herb-spice notes; a full palate and creamy texture, showing a certain opulence while remaining elegant; juicy acidity and a long, saline, mineral-driven finish. Powerful, complex, with ageing potential.

Pale yellow, bright color. A lovely, highly perfumed nose—intense, fruity and subtle. Delicate on the attack, aromatic through the mid-palate, with a fine creamy texture coating the palate and a lively drive, the wine melts into a long, sappy finish. Very good!

If you have a vintage with a heatwave, you can count on this estate to outperform, and it did again in 2023, with wine marked by refined aromas of wet stone, lemongrass, verbena, fresh herb, lime, quince and kiwi. This kaleidoscope of aromas and flavours is encapsulated in a smooth and vivacious palate that remains precise and with exciting precision through to a long finish. The somewhat high alcohol is balanced by the acidity as the team picked to attain ripeness, while not doing any malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness.