Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2016
The Wine
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc
97 Pts James Suckling 'Aromas of blackberries, red and dark plums, cedar and gravel, as well as red flowers and brown-leaf tea. It offers a very sleek and powerful array of ripe dark fruit and a very plush, focused and elegant bed of fresh, fine and powerful tannins. Plenty of aging potential, this is still quite tight. A blend of 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 35 per cent merlot, five per cent cabernet franc and five per cent petit verdot. Try from 2024.'
96+ Pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW 'The 2016 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer profound notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and blueberry compote, plus touches of garrigue, smoked meats, and oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with rich black fruits, framed by plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.'
96 Pts Jane Anson, Decanter.com 'Rich, round and beautiful, there really is distance between red and white this year. This has all the signature welcome and power of the very best vintages of Domaine de Chevalier, one of the 'clue' châteaux you should follow to track the quality of reds and whites in Bordeaux in any given vintage. Here you see that 2016 hits it out of the park with the reds. Rich damson, deep black cherry, slate, wet stones and curls of cold ash - this has beautiful complexity and texture. Stunning. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050.'
95 Pts Neal Martin, vinous.com 'The 2016 Domaine de Chevalier is a classy affair on the nose: nothing ambitious or self-aggrandizing, just beautifully defined black fruit laced with pine needles and wilted irises. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, filigreed tannin, pitch-perfect acidity and a captivating sense of mineralité toward the persistent finish. This is an outstanding Domaine de Chevalier, possessing a surfeit of pedigree and breeding. Drink 2022-2055.'
The Details
Variety - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Country - France
Region - Bordeaux
Sub Region - Graves / Pessac-Leognan
Extra - Cork
Year - 2016
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Domaine de Chevalier is one of the rare Bordeaux châteaux celebrated for both red and white wines, and it’s only flourished since the Bernard distilling company acquired the Pessac-Léognan estate in 1983. Guided by Olivier Bernard the vineyard has doubled in size.
The 58 hectares for the red are planted with 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. With Stéphane Derenoncourt of La Mondotte joining as a consultant in 2012, the wines have become concentrated, mineral-driven, and remain remarkably well priced.
