The intensity and perfumes on the nose are extremely impressive, offering pure blackberries and violets, as well as bark, wild-mushroom and raw-tile notes. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins that envelop the wine and a gorgeous, subtly complex center palate with all the flavors found on the nose. Endless finish. Love the finesse and length to this. Greatest ever. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2026.

The 2018 Domaine De Chevalier is a beauty. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in 35% new French oak, it has a beautiful sense of elegance and purity, which is very much in the style of the vintage as well as the domaine. Blackcurrants, black cherries, cold fireplace, damp earth, tobacco, and chocolate are just some of the nuances here, and this complex, medium to full-bodied 2018 has gorgeous tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It has suppleness in its texture that allows it to offer pleasure even today, yet given its balance as well as purity, it deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 30+ years. It is another brilliant wine from the team of Olivier Bernard.

Clearly the finest vintage of Domaine de Chevalier ever produced, this beauty has it all. The captivating perfume with all its smoke, earth, spice, tobacco infused, ripe, red and dark red fruits, tar, cigar box, thyme and espresso scents is close to off the charts. With the 2018 you find unheard of levels of concentration with everything in balance. The fruits are generous, silky and pure. The refined, elegant finish just goes on and on. With aging, this could merit an even higher score in the years to come. . Olivier Bernard calls this the best vintage of Domaine de Chevalier he has ever produced and he is right! The wine is made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2018+Domaine+de+Chevalier+

With the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this wine shows its pedigree, richness and potential. Tannins are almost velvet in their texture while packing a fine punch and conveying plenty of longevity. The ripeness of the vintage balances with the structure. Drink the wine from 2027. - Roger Voss

Dreamy, with a velvety, caressing feel to a mix of warmed cassis, plum reduction and cherry preserve flavors that glide through slowly, but surely, letting anise, sweet tobacco and mineral accents peek in throughout. Very long, very refined. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038. — J.M.

Ripe, heady, dark, tobacco and cedar spice, quite rich and opulent on the nose. Sun kissed. Feels a little strict and tight, a little severe and constricted. Lots of toast and cinnamon spice, warming fruit, but there is a beautiful freshnes and lift to this too. I feel the structure is taking over a bit at the moment, needs to soften and settle, it has all the hallmarks of a great wine, sleek, super high definition to the tannins and fruit purity. Succulent, clean and bright. You can tell this is from a hot vintage in the ripe fruit, a touch of raisin and prune and plum to it so for that reason I don't love it as much as 2005 and 2009 at this point, but this will find a lot of fans.

This is the wine that I opened the night the preview pages of my new website went live, which tells you that I consider it a special occasion wine, something to really sit back with and enjoy. Not only that, but I kept it in the fridge for a week, just having a glass every few days, and it delivered consistently through to the last drop, because there is structure and flesh to the lemon, white pear, lychee and freshly cut herb flavours, with oyster shell salinity. 30% new oak. 7ha of white grapes here, and one of the most consistenly ageable whites in Bordeaux. Harvesting always takes place over several trips through the vineyard with never more than 30% of the fruit picked at any one time.

(95+ points) A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier has a deep garnet-purple color, pouncing out of the glass with energetic scents of crushed blackcurrants, fresh, juicy blackberries and ripe plums, with suggestions of crushed rocks, bay leaves, unsmoked cigars and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with muscular black fruits, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and mineral laced. Give it another 4 years in bottle to flesh out and drink it over the next 25+ years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Domaine de Chevalier 2018 is deep garnet purple in color. It is a little closed to begin with emerging scents of warm cassis, blackberry preserves, and Morello cherries, plus hints of menthol, spice cake, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a velvety texture and plenty of freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing with a minty kick. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown