2018 Domaine de Chevalier Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $104.94
$84.94
In Stock: 0 btls
Ships Immediately
Pre-Arrival: 13 btls
ETA: Jan. 2025
Most orders placed M-F by 3pm (PT) ship same day.
Orders placed on a weekend or holiday will ship the next business day.
Shipping Info

Free storage available
Wine Storage

REVIEWS

JS 99 JD 97 JL 97 WE 96 WS 96 DC 95 JA 95 WA 95 TWI 95
JS 99

jamessuckling.com, February 2021

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...
JD 97

jebdunnuck.com, March 2021

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...
JL 97

TheWineCellarInsider.com, March 2021

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...
WE 96

Wine Enthusiast, April 2021

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...
WS 96

Wine Spectator, January 2021

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...
DC 95

Decanter, September 2023

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...
JA 95

janeanson.com, July 2021

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...
WA 95

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, March 2021

(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...
TWI 95

The Wine Independent, February 2023

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...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Pessac Leognan
Vintage 2018
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 14.5%
Closure Cork

Domaine de Chevalier of the Pessac-Leognan appellation is classified as a Grand Cru Classe de Graves. The property belonged to the Ricard family from 1865 until it was purchased by its current owners, the Bernard family, in 1983. It is one of a very few Bordeaux estates to have kept its “domaine” title instead of using the the more popular “chateau” designation.

The estate covers a hundred hectares, of which 45 are under vine: 40 for the property’s red wines, and 5 for its whites. The vineyards are planted with 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot for the red wines, and 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon for the white wines. Soils are dark sand and fine white gravel.

Domaine de Chevalier has been run since acquisition by Olivier Bernard, who perpetuates that spirit of balance and the constant drive for perfection which have been the hallmark of their outstanding wines. The flagship red belongs to the elite of the great classified growths of Bordeaux, while the white is recognized as one of the world’s finest dry wines. The domaine also produces red and white second wines under the Esprit de Chevalier label, which are made from the estate’s young vines.

Olivier Bernard has this to say about his red wines: “Domaine de Chevalier rouge has good structure and a great deal of finesse, complexity, and aging potential – which does not exclude a smooth, fruity quality that makes it enjoyable in its youth. Always balanced, never aggressive, power is by no means the priority...”

Assistant General Manager, Rémi Edange adds: “Chevalier’s red wines are well-structured with round, very fine, tight-knit tannin... They are tremendously elegant and distinguished with a very long aftertaste and more delicacy than power...”

The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier Bordeaux Blend is a truly exceptional wine that showcases the best of Pessac Leognan in Bordeaux, France. With its striking deep garnet-purple color, this wine is visually captivating, inviting wine enthusiasts to delve into its complex and alluring aromas.

On the nose, the intensity and perfumes are extremely impressive, exuding pure blackberries and violets, accompanied by notes of bark, wild mushrooms, and raw tile. The bouquet also reveals hints of crushed blackcurrants, fresh juicy blackberries, and ripe plums, complemented by crushed rocks, bay leaves, unsmoked cigars, and lavender. This symphony of scents is a testament to the wine's exceptional quality and attention to detail.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, this wine offers a full-bodied palate that is both powerful and elegant. Creamy tannins envelop the wine, while a subtly complex center palate showcases all the flavors found on the nose. The wine's impeccable balance and finesse are a testament to the winemaker's expertise.

With an alcohol content of 14.5%, this wine exhibits a beautiful tension and great length, finishing with a mineral-laced character that lingers on the palate. The structure of this wine is further enhanced by approximately 18 months of aging in oak barriques, 35% of which are new.

Renowned wine critic James Suckling awarded this vintage an impressive score of 99 points, calling it the "greatest ever." Wine Enthusiast awarded it 96 points, noting its richness, potential, and fine punchy tannins. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also praised this wine, awarding it 95+ points and highlighting its muscular black fruits and firm, ripe, grainy tannins.

The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier is a wine that will only improve with age. It is recommended to wait until 2026 before enjoying this exceptional vintage, and it can be cellared for over 25 years.

In summary, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier Bordeaux Blend is a wine that exemplifies the artistry of winemaking in Pessac Leognan. With its captivating aromas, complex flavors, and impeccable balance, this wine is truly a masterpiece. It is a must-have for any wine connoisseur and will undoubtedly impress even the most discerning palates.