Domaine de Chevalier - Pessac-Léognan red 2012

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

Very floral and elegant with raspberry and blackcurrant fruit mixed with toasty oak/vanillin, followed by a medium to full-bodied, stylish, polished wine that is the quintessentially refined style of Pessac-Léognan. Nevertheless, the complexity and nuance has yet to fully emerge. This medium to full-bodied Domaine de Chevalier is poised for a bright future. It is tight and backward now, as well as restrained aromatically, but everything is there for the future. Forget it for 5-7 years and drink it over the following 30 years. 92+ points

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

Extremely complex with cinnamon, dried fruits and dried flowers. Full body, super-integrated tannins and a silky, polished finish. Very impressive. Better in 2018 but very beautiful already.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2015

This sports lovely, enticing plum sauce, melted black licorice, blackberry pâte de fruit and cherry compote notes, along with fruitcake and graphite accents that fill in the background. The solid structure is fully absorbed into the fruit, and this should cellar well. A solid effort for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2025. 8,333 cases made. –JM

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

the12/11/2014

65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. (Thanks for the back label!) Glowing dark crimson. The most complex nose of all 2012 Pessacs, with the exception of the

Haut-Brion stable. Pretty muscular and a little obviously chewy on the end for the moment but confidently presenting a wine whose charms do not depend on ripeness but on terroir.

Appetising.Drink 2020-2035 (16,5++ points)

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

the10/23/2014

65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. (Thanks for the back label!)
Glowing dark crimson. The most complex nose of all 2012 Pessacs, with the exception of the Haut-Brion stable. Pretty muscular and a little obviously chewy on the end for the moment but confidently presenting a wine whose charms do not depend on ripeness but on terroir. Appetising. (16,5++) 2020-2035

timatkin.com

94 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

Further proof that the top Pessac-Léognan reds were a step up on the 2011s and not far behind the quality of the 2010s, this is a very elegant, patrician wine, described as “frockcoated” by one colleague. Spice, tobacco and freshness with plenty of oak, good cassisdominated fruit and a savoury reticence. Drink: 2020-35

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

Deep, fully saturated ruby-purple.  Blackberry, minerals, graphite and herbs on the nose, with added punch delivered by peppery spices.  Sweet, supple and nicely concentrated, if with a bit less density and complexity than in recent top vintages, such as 2009 and 2010.  Lovely black cherry and blueberry flavors display a tangy sweetness.  The very long finish features dusty, fine-grained tannins and a clean mineral overlay.  A little more concentration and I would have scored this wine much higher.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits noirs un peu compotés, bouche vive, tendue, serrée, tanins bien présents en finale, long et droit. O= 2017 G= 10 ans

Asian Palate

91 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

A polished, supple red with velvety tannins and a wonderful array of flavours - plums, blackberries and sweet spices. There is good depth here with tannins that are round, supple and ripe. Not one of Domaine de Chevalier's best vintages, but there is plenty of approachable flavours here to enjoy over the next 8-12 years.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/3/2013

Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The Domaine de Chevalier has a lovely understated, very pure, quite feminine bouquet with seamlessly integrated oak that neatly encases the blackberry and blueberry fruit. There is a floral note that emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. There is a real backbone to this Pessac-Leognan, although the structured is disguised behind layers of velvety tannins. Gorgeous – but it deserves several years in the cellar. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Fresh and nicely polished, with a rounded feel to the mix of plum skin, cherry preserve and currant notes. Alluring spice and dark tea notes fill in the finish. Sneakily long. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

18 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Fairly rich and dense with spice and a fair amount of power this is a very good DDC with fine control, too.

Wine Advocate

92-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

One of the stars of the vintage, it boasts a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of red and black currants, graphite, subtle flowers and well-integrated, toasty oak. Impressively built rich and medium to full-bodied without losing the quintessential elegance and finesse for which this famous estate is renowned, the 2012 Domaine de Chevalier is filled with purity, equilibrium and balance. The tannins are sweet enough that this wine should be accessible when released, and will last for 15-20 years. Is this a modern day clone of their brilliant 1953 (which I drank from magnum at Bern’s Steak House in November for less than $500!)?

I was joking with proprietor Olivier Bernard, who is now the president of the Union des Grands Crus, that his position seems to be accompanied by much higher scores from wine critics. Nevertheless, there is no question that Domaine de Chevalier has been on a relatively hot streak lately, and this 2012 is a beauty.
Drink: 2013 - 2033

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

With soft dark red berries, smoke, earth, coffee bean and cherry tones, the medium-bodied wine was produced in a fresh, elegant style, which will drink well young. 90-92 Pts

My Bettane + Desseauve

17 / 20

the4/26/2013

Nez plus crémeux et lactique, tannin velouté, mondain, finesse évidente, vinification moderne et attentive, bonne suite en bouche, séducteur.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,3 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/19/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fruité, un peu discret et crémeux. Jolie entrée en bouche puis le vin se développe plutôt ample au milieu, savoureux et particulièrement fruité. Juteux, puissant pour le millésime, il prend un bon goût de cabernet sauvignon dans la persistance et s’achève sur des tannins enveloppés. Vin très bien construit. Un succès.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/19/2013

Drink 2018-2030
Very dark crimson. Very concentrated and interesting on the nose. Sweet and voluptuous. Perhaps lacking a teensy amount of energy and drive. And the tannins are a little drying on the end. Acidity and grip are marked. Very much work in progress. As usual.  (16,5++ points)

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

This shows wonderful depth of fruit with blackberries, blueberry and spice. Minerals too. Full body, with beautiful and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Superb finish. Sensational for the vintage.