L'Esprit de Chevalier rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2022

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

89

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Charming, has lift and well defined dark fruits, chalky tannins, a touch of cassis bud, just not quite the balance of Domaine de la Solitude, which would be my pick of the two sibling estates.

Wine Advocate

92

byYohan Castaingthe3/6/2025

The 2022 L'Esprit de Chevalier unfurls from the glass with aromas of cassis, mulberries, spices and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, textured and layered, it’s elegant and seamless with good depth at the core and youthful, delicate tannins. Concluding with a long, penetrating and ethereal finish, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot is a real success.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 L'Esprit De Chevalier offers a spicy, complex profile with a supple, rounded texture and an elegant, balanced profile. Medium to full-bodied with fine tannins and an undeniably delicious style, it’s well worth buying and drinking over the coming decade or so.

Yvesbeck.wine

92

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot Que de clarté, de pureté dans le bouquet de l'Esprit de Chevalier. Invitant tant par sa fraîcheur que ton expression fruitée, le vin est linéaire, soyeux et porté par des tannins compacts et veloutés qui offrent une puissance mesurée et structurée. Un vin sapide et salivant. 2025-2034 92/100

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 L'Esprit de Chevalier presents a tightly coiled nose with blackcurrant, incense and light sea spray scents. It's well defined but still needs a couple of years to open. The palate is medium-bodied with muscular tannins for a Deuxième Vin. This is more structured than anticipated, though bottle age will shave its edges. Give it more time in the cellar than you think and you will be duly rewarded.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

This is really perfumed with rose petals and citrus fruit. It's medium-bodied with brightness and fine tannins that caress the palate. Focused. Vivid. The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Drink after 2027.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 L’Esprit de Chevalier is soft, supple and inviting—in other words, everything a second wine should be. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, mint, spice and white pepper are nicely delineated. There's lovely energy here.

Decanter.com

90

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Supple and tannic, but juicy and creamy, giving a less tense aspect and more wide expression still with bite and cool liquorice and vanilla aspects. A touch dry on the finish, coiled and compact but clean and fresh with some strawberry yogurt type flavours. Tannic on the finish but there is nice appeal here. In organic conversion.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 L'Esprit de Chevalier has an underlying sous-bois/mulch-like note on the nose, tucked beneath the dark berry fruit, plus an iodine hint. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins and good weight with what feels like a solid backbone. Almost uncompromising for a Deuxième Vin with a grippy finish. It's a second wine that deserves four to five years in bottle.

The Vintage Journal

93-94

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry cassis chinotto aromas and flavours, lovely mid-palate richness and sinuous fine tannins. Builds up cedary firm at the finish. Very well balanced wine with classic vigour and freshness. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot 14% alc

matthewjukes.com

16,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2022 L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color. It tumbles from the glass with evocative notes of plum preserves, black raspberries, and Morello cherries with hints of lavender and fallen leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate is bright and refreshing, with firm, grainy tannins to support the energetic black and red berry layers, finishing on a mineral note. pH 3.53.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The second wine of this reference point estate in the Graves region, the 2022 L'Esprit De Chevalier is a 60/40 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot brought up mostly in used barrels. It's a medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant second wine that has pretty cassis-like fruit, some graphite and smoked herb nuances, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. It's going to drink well right out of the gate.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 L’Esprit de Chevalier is plush and seductive right out of the gate. Soft contours wrap around a core of plum, sweet red cherry, spice and rose petals. Forward and juicy, L’Esprit will be an absolute delight upon release. It’s a real charmer, even in the early going. Drinking window : 2025-2032

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Plums, tobacco, black cherries, spice, mint, and cocoa come through on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is silky, fresh, soft, and polished, with sweetness to the berries seemingly wrapped in cigar wrappers, with a touch of mint in the finish. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035.

Wine Advocate

88-90

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

The 2022 L'Esprit de Chevalier displays aromas of dark berries, spices and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate. It is rather firm on the finish. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/20/2023

Very structured with fine tannins that are layered and intense. Muscular and polished. Very, very long. Second wine.