Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90 / 100 byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014 Ruby-red. Perfumed, fruity aromas of blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Very fresh and fruity on the palate as well, with bright blackcurrant and floral flavors lingering nicely through the aftertaste. Boasts sneaky concentration and building sweetness. The finish features very polished tannins and none of the harshness or green character of so many other 2011s. (90(+?) points)
Wine Advocate 94 / 100 byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014 A spectacular effort, especially for this challenging vintage, Olivier Bernard’s 2011 Domaine de Chevalier boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of subtle charcoal, graphite, black currants and black cherries. Rich and full-bodied with a multilayered mouthfeel and a long, complex, stunning finish, this is a profound example of a 2011 from a great terroir. Consume it over the next 20 years.
Jamessuckling.com 92 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014 This is a rich wine for the vintage with mineral, raspberry and lemongrass character. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Need three or four years to come together.
Wine Spectator 92 / 100 byJames Molesworththe2/10/2014 This is solidly built, featuring a full-bodied feel from the loam and tar frame, balanced by the depth of the plum, blackberry and fig core. Reveals a smoldering edge through the finish, with an echo of cocoa. Best from 2016 through 2028.
La Revue du Vin de France 16,5-17,5 / 20 the5/31/2012 La qualité du rouge de Chevalier s'affirme d'année en année. Le vieillissement des vignes, la précision dans les vinifications montrent que tous les détails comptent. 2011 possède un toucher de tanins exceptionnels. L'élégance aromatique mêle expression minérale et fruité juste. Sans posséder le gabarit de 2010, il se distingue par son harmonie, son énergie. C'est l'un des meilleurs échantillons de rouges dégustés.
Le Point 16,5-17 / 20 byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012 Fruits noirs, ceris écrasée, bouche ronde, moelleuse, tanins doux, frais, fin, gourmand, pas trop extrait, le fruit est valorisé. Vin soyeux, bien dans l'esprit du millésime. O= 2018 G= 15 ans
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89-91 / 100 byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012 Deep ruby. Aromas of red berries, minerals and herbs leap from the glass. On the palate, zippy acidity provides considerable lift to the red berry, plum and mineral flavors. Finishes juicy, graceful and long, with an attractive floral touch.
Decanter.com 17,5 / 20 the4/30/2012 Elegant black berry fruits, lightly expressed concentration, lovely texture and depth, strong tannins already blending in and a long life in front of it. Drink 2016-2035.
Wine Advocate 87-89 / 100 byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012 A very good effort from this estate located in the southern sector of Pessac-Leognan, the 2011 Domaine de Chevalier is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot that achieved 13% natural alcohol. It offers medium body, attractive sweet red and black currant fruit, a round, supple texture, and hints of roasted herbs and damp earth. Drink this pretty, elegant effort during its first 10-15 years of life.
TAST 17-17,5 / 20 by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012 Beaucoup de variations dans les échantillons, comme souvent, mais les meilleurs donnent le ton : vin d'une très belle fraîcheur aromatique et d'un équilibre digne de sa réputation.
Wein Wisser 19 / 20 byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012 Selten tiefe Farbe, extrem dichtes Purpur-Lila. Kompaktes, konzentriertes Bouquet, frische Edelhölzer, Schwarzbrot, Kirschen und Maulbeeren. Samtiger, wohlgeformter Körper, zeigt jetzt schon viel Charme dank milder Säure und extrem delikaten Tanninen, total schwarzbeerig mit schwarzem Kirschengelée im langen Finale. Gemessen an den Voraussetzungen des Jahrgangs haben Olivier Bernard und Rémy Edange mit diesem Wein eine absolute Meisterleistung vollbracht. 2018-2045
The Wine Cellar Insider 90-92 / 100 byJeff Levethe4/27/2012 From an assemblage of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 40% new oak. With earth, spice, blackberry and smoke, this elegant, polished wine ends with spicy red and black fruit with dark cherries. 90-92 Pts
Wine Advocate 90-92 / 100 byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012 The 2011 is a blend of two-thirds Cabernet and one-third Merlot but Olivier Bernard then mentioned that is includes 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is closed at first but it demonstrates fine precision with blackcurrant, boysenberry, limestone and graphite aromas, again, almost Pauillac like in profile. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins on the entry, crisp acidity: a Domaine de Chevalier struck through with a citric like freshness. A little abrupt and “spiky” on the finish perhaps, but this is a fine, masculine, classic Domaine de Chevalier for mid-term drinking. Tasted April 2012
Asian Palate 91-93 / 100 byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012 Generous medium bodied red with the caressing tannins classic to Domaine de Chevalier. The aromatics are muted in this sample but on the palate there is plummy, generous flavours and velvety tannins. Well made Pessac Leognan red with a fairly long length.
Jancis Robinson 17 / 20 byJulia Harding MWthe4/20/2012 Drink 2017-2028 Inky dark core. Sweet, warm inviting cherry fruit plus a balancing graphite note. Dry, powder fine, quite gentle on the palate. Although the tannins are dry there's still a fluidity to the wine as a whole. A bit abrupt at the end. (JH)
Wine Spectator 89-92 / 100 byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012 Firm, slightly dusty-edged plum and cassis fruit here, with a good sappy feel on the finish. Underlying tarry edge. Solid, if a bit reticent today.—J.M.
Wine Enthusiast 91-93 / 100 byRoger Vossthe4/5/2012 This wine’s concentrated tannins match the sweet fruit and ripe acidity. It shows structure and density, with its blackberry flavor already showing well. ––R.V
Jamessuckling.com 92-93 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012 Very polished tannins to this refined and beautiful red with minerals and blackberries. Some wet earth too. Full and very integrated now.