The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pessac-Léognan region, is a wine that has garnered significant acclaim from professional reviewers. This vintage, crafted by Olivier Bernard and his team, marks Bernard's 40th vinification at this esteemed estate, an occasion commemorated with a special label.
The wine is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It presents with a deep garnet-purple color and offers a complex bouquet of aromas. According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, it delivers "aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest, and spices," and is praised for its long, penetrating finish.
James Suckling awards it an outstanding 98 points, highlighting its "beautiful silky tannins" and "currants, blackberries, minerals and crushed stones" that provide a seamless blend of finesse and structure. Jeff Leve, also scoring it 98 points, describes it as "silky, elegant, plummy, rich and loaded with chocolate-covered, dark pit fruits, espresso, and black cherries."
Jeb Dunnuck shares a similar sentiment, noting the wine's "brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoke tobacco, and damp earth" and praising its "layered, silky mouthfeel." Jane Anson commends its "confident delivery of full-on tannic architecture" with a balance of ripe fruit and cooling flavors.
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss highlights the estate's performance, mentioning the wine's "powerful tannins" and overall structure. The Wine Independent describes it as "elegantly styled" with bright berry layers and a "very long and perfumed finish."
With reviews consistently in the mid to high 90s, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier is a well-structured, elegant wine with significant aging potential, reflecting the unique characteristics of its dry vintage and expert craftsmanship.
