The 2016 Domaine de Chevalier Bordeaux Blend is a highly regarded wine from the Pessac Leognan sub-region in Bordeaux, France. This red wine, sealed with a cork closure, is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, and boasts an alcohol content of 13.5%.
James Suckling of jamessuckling.com awarded this wine an impressive 97 points, highlighting its "aromas of blackberries, red and dark plums, cedar and gravel, as well as red flowers and brown-leaf tea." He noted its "sleek and powerful array of ripe dark fruit" and praised its "elegant bed of fresh, fine and powerful tannins," suggesting that while it has aging potential, it remains "quite tight" presently.
Similarly, Jeb Dunnuck from jebdunnuck.com also gave it 97 points, describing it as a "deep purple-hued beauty" with a "powerful bouquet of tobacco smoke, damp earth, gravelly, rocky minerality, wood smoke, and loads of dark fruits." He emphasized its "full-bodied, deep, concentrated yet incredibly elegant and seamless" character, predicting it will age well for three to four decades.
Wine Spectator's James Molesworth scored it 96 points, complimenting its "sappy and dense" core of fruit flavors, including "kirsch, raspberry pâte de fruit and plum reduction notes." He noted its "bright iron spine" and "long finish that shows a wonderful infusion of alder and tobacco flavors," recommending it be enjoyed between 2024 and 2038.
The Wine Enthusiast also rated it 96 points, describing it as "elegant" with a "firm tannic structure" and "densely textured." They noted its "black-plum and berry fruits" contributing to its weight and highlighted its potential for aging, suggesting it will be best enjoyed from 2026.
Neal Martin of Vinous gave it 95 points, calling it "a classy affair" with "beautifully defined black fruit laced with pine needles and wilted irises." He praised its "medium-bodied" palate, "filigreed tannin," and "captivating sense of mineralité toward the persistent finish."
Decanter's review, also scored at 96 points, remarked on the wine's "brooding cassis and blackberry fruit, firm tannins and touches of tobacco and smoked sarments," asserting that it will age well given its complex layers.
Finally, Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it another 97 points, suggesting it might be "the best vintage yet" for Domaine de Chevalier. He praised its "silky, elegant, caressing textures" and "freshness and purity in the fruit," calling it a "stunner that will age for decades."
Overall, the 2016 Domaine de Chevalier Bordeaux Blend is a highly esteemed wine with significant aging potential, characterized by its powerful fruit flavors, elegant tannins, and complex aromatic profile.