Domaine de Chevalier rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2020

Alexandre Ma

95 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Advocate

95,5 / 100

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier is a touch more tightly wound than the brilliant 2019 out of the gates, but it seems likely to equal that vintage with a bit of time. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty blackberries and cassis mingled with notions of burning embers, spices, rose petals and orange rind, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit, powdery structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. As I wrote last year, this estate in recent vintages has arrived at a sort of stylistic contemporary classicism that evokes the great wines of yesteryear from this address, and the 2020 continues that trend.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Well-built, pulling ample and weighty waves of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry preserves along, atop a broad spine of warm loam, smoldering tobacco and singed alder. Long and deep through the fine-grained finish, with a warm paving stone note that won't quit, thanks to well-buried acidity—not an easy feat in this vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2038.

Jeb DUNNUCK

98 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

The Grand Vin 2020 Domaine De Chevalier ratchets everything up another notch and will be one of the legendary wines from this address. Notes of pure cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and scorched earth define its incredible aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is pure, classic, regal Pessac-Léognan is as good as anything in the vintage. Give bottles 4-6 years and it will evolve for 50, 60, 70+ years. I absolutely love this wine. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97 / 100

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Showing a solid depth of color, the moment the wine hits the glass you find a wealth of black raspberries, cigar box, mint, oceanic influences, smoke, licorice, black currants, blackberries, bay leaf, and black raspberries in the nose. On the palate, the wine exudes an incredible purity of fruit, dark chocolate, and layers of ripe, dense, sensuously-textured black, red, and blue fruits that unfold seamlessly across your palate, and linger for close to 50 seconds. There is lift, energy, volume, and depth on the palate finishing with waves of dark red currants, creme de cassis, tobacco leaf, blackberry, savory herbs, and a gentle wisp of spearmint on the backend. Clearly, this is one of the great vintages of Domaine de Chevalier that fans of the estate should run, (not walk) to buy! Drink from 2026-2055.

Alexandre Ma

95 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Wines Critic

97 /

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Exciting in the terse, captivating and joyous sensory profile. Domaine de Chevalier shows a natural beauty without make-up. The notes of cherries, lemon peel, vetiver and sandalwood blend well with hints of cut grass, wild strawberries and grape must. Full bodied, elegant and harmonic in the tasting showing character, tension and a delicate progression which will become a true point of reference for the domaine. Great now but will be stunning from 2026 onwards.

Vinous

96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier is brilliant. Bright, poised and wonderfully pure, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier marries the radiance of the year with tremendous freshness. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, star anise and cinnamon all meld together. The 2020 is a wine built on aromatic presence and persistence, more so than heft, with all the elements very nicely balanced. What a wine! Tasted two times.

Vinous

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier has a concentrated, well-defined bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, tobacco, hickory and wild hedgerow. Touches of pressed iris flower surface with aeration. Generous, yet it maintains ample delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, white pepper and touches of tobacco, very fine depth, focused and perhaps a little more muscular than other vintages with a sapid finish that is surprising given the growing season. Superb.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe11/30/2022

Well-built, pulling ample and weighty waves of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry preserves along, atop a broad spine of warm loam, smoldering tobacco and singed alder. Long and deep through the fine-grained finish, with a warm paving stone note that won't quit, thanks to well-buried acidity—not an easy feat in this vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2038.

TASTED

97 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Great structure blending a wealth of ripe dark fruit with fine oak, plenty of super refined tannins, lovely freshness paired with dense dark fruit and marvellously long finish, excellent potential.

La Revue du Vin de France

92-93 / 100

the6/7/2021

Chevalier se distingue cette année par son acidité vive, qui confère beaucoup de fraîcheur et de tension à une matière décidée, svelte, presque mince. La saveur racée évoquant le piment rouge et le bois frais est bien marquée par le cabernet-sauvignon qui compose 65 % de l’assemblage. C’est un vin qui ne peut que grandir.

Le Figaro

94-97 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez vibrant de fruits rouges et noirs entrant en résonnance les uns avec les autres, et une délicatesse florale d'iris et de pivoine tout à fait ensorcelante. En bouche, une merveilleuse alliance de tabac chaud, et une texture assez fine malgré le bois. Un vin plus cavalier que chevalier, où l'on sent la chaleur d'un mois d'août, et une belle finale saline.

Vinous

95-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier is going to need a number of years to unwind. Rich, heady and super-concentrated, the 2020 is so impressive, right out of the gate. Crushed rocks, rose petal, cedar, pomegranate and mint all build as the 2020 shows off its vibrant, layered personality. Domaine de Chevalier remains one of the most under the radar wines in all of Bordeaux. The 2020 is an absolutely brilliant effort from Olivier Bernard and his team. Tasted two times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95-97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

From an estate that’s been on fire over the past decade, the 2020 Domaine De Chevalier is another brilliant wine in the making and checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Offering impressive cassis and darker berry fruits, it has complex notes of crushed flowers, violets, and damp earth-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins and a silky, layered, seamless texture, it shines for both its richness and its balance. It also shuts down quite quickly, so if you’re going to drink bottles, try one in its youth. Otherwise, be sure to give bottles 7-8 years in a cold cellar. It should have 30-40 years of overall longevity.

Vinous

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier, which was cropped at 38hl/ha, is deep purple with glints of blue. The bouquet is very clean, precise and focused, not dissimilar to the impressive Malartic Lagravière that I tasted alongside, touches of wet granite and truffle emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. This Domaine de Chevalier has a deeply impressive structure counterbalanced by equally impressive freshness and elegance, fanning out wonderfully on the finish, which is very persistent. Just a shade off the outstanding 2019... perhaps.

Decanter.com

95 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Concentrated ruby red colour, a little subdued on the nose, built with structure and power, concentrated and should age well. Classical, powerful, not exuberant, an impressive Chevalier that has tannins and fruit and freshness, nothing shouting too loud. As it opens, you see a peony floral edge that is very attractive. Easily among the best in Pessac. A yield of 38hl/ha.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Dark in color, the wine pops with notes of Cuban cigars, smoke, black currants, flowers, blackberries, forest leaf and an intriguing hint of orange rind at the end of the nose. Full-bodied, plush, polished and well-defined, every layer offers nuance with silk and velvet textures. There is lift, energy, volume and depth on the palate, finishing with waves of dark red currants, creme de cassis, tobacco leaf, blackberry, savory herbs and a gentle wisp of spearmint on the backend. It is going to be quite a treat comparing 2018, 2019 and 2020 over the years. I am certain this will age and evolve for at least 3 decades or more from here. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 3 % Cabernet Franc 13.7% ABV. 96-98

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier comes skipping out of the glass with energetic scents of ripe red and black currants, fresh blackberries and boysenberries, plus nuances of wild sage, cloves and cedar with a waft of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate surprises and delights with an unexpected richness and depth that remains locked away on the nose, revealing layers of fragrant earth and floral notions framed by fantastic freshness and firm, finely grained tannins, finishing with the most gorgeous, long-lingering perfume.

Anthocyanes

90-92 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Marqué par le bois, on peine à reconnaître le nez de cette propriété pourtant tournée vers les arômes fruités et les trames aromatiques élégantes ces dernières années. La bouche est pleine, massive, très boisée et les tanins très structurants assèchent l'ensemble.

Bernard Burtschy

97-98 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

94-96 / 100

the5/10/2021

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Attraktive dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Herzkirschen unterlegt, zart nach Orangenzesten, feine Edel- holzwürze, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, elegant, feine Fruchtsüße, kirschiger Touch, gute Frische, reife, gut eingebundene Tannine, mineralisch und gut anhaftend, sicheres Reifepotenzial, feine Röstaromen im Nachhall.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/23/2021

Iron, black mushroom and dark berry with some burnt orange peel. Flowers, too. It’s full-bodied with round tannins that turn linear and tight at the end. Excellent energy. Brightness and purity.