Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2021

Jeb Dunnuck

A true success in the vintage is the 2021 Domaine de Chevalier from the team of Olivier Bernard. Based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it was harvested between the September 28 and October 12. It will spend 18 months in a mix of new and used barrels. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and focused, with the style of the vintage front and center, it has gorgeous cassis and darker fruits, notes of tobacco and violets, ripe tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's up there with the top wines in the vintage.

WINE ENTHUSIAST

VERTDEVIN

The nose is fruity, fresh, elegant, delicate and reveals a nice purity/pulpiness of fruit, nice definition and a fine multi-layered character. There are notes of bright sour cherry, pulpy blueberry and more lightly blackcurrant combined with hints of crisp raspberry, fresh flowers/fresh lilies, fine hints of fresh pine needle, a discreet hint of pepper, salinity and zan. The palate is fruity and reveals freshness, good definition, a certain gourmandize, some unctuousness/generosity of fruit, tension, a nice acidic backbone, a nice work on positive bitterness (discrete), tension and a nice finesse of the guideline. On the palate this wine expresses fresh/pulpy blackberry, blueberry and more lightly fresh/pulpy plum notes combined with hints of bright/chunky raspberry as well as fresh lily, pine needle/sense of place, fine zan, star anise, a subtle hint of dark chocolate, a discreet hint of salinity, green cardamom. Good length. The tannins are elegant, precise, fine, finely powdered and racy. A nice sapidity on the finish/persistence.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier is full of promise, bursting with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, bay leaf, licorice, potpourri and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, its velvety attack segues into a lively, layered core, concluding with a long, nicely defined finish. Olivier Bernard doesn't think that this will surpass his 2018, but I tend to disagree. The 2021 is a blend of fully 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Decanter Magazine

Aromatic nose, perfumed black fruits, bramble tones and a touch of sweet spice. Round and mouthfilling, this has good density and depth for the vintage, tannins are on the juicy plump side with a dry grippy texture though satisfying not austere with the fruit powering through giving cherry and blackcurrant flavours. This has good persistency and doesn't let up - it's not a showstopper at this point but I love the quality of the fruit and the tannins and the lifted acidity as well as the darker more savoury elements of liquorice, black chocolate, graphite and smoked cedar that come in towards the end. Lots going on here with good potential. You get the impression nothing is hiding and I love that. Really the grapes and the terroir on show. A good success and will be interesting to taste in bottle. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

James Suckling

A medium-bodied DC with a pretty core of ripe fruit that shows licorice, blackberry and some currant character. Spice box, too. Very long, with fine tannins and plenty of energy. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc.