Drink 2008-2019
-Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide No 7

Right Bank consultant Stephane Derenoncourt was brought in as the lead consultant at this noble estate in Pessac-Leognan. As a result, the tannins are sweeter, the oak is more subtle and better integrated, and the wine is more textured and complex. An evolved, complex bouquet of black currants, forest floor, smoked herbs, and sweet cherries as well as currants emerges from the 2003. It displays supple tannin, medium to full body, beautiful purity, and a classic, elegant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The Domaine de Chevalier 2003 has a muffled earthy bouquet with mulberry, scorched earth and a touch of leather. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy ripe tannins and plenty of blackberry and raspberry fruit. There is an agreeable sense of symmetry and certainly admirable freshness to Oliver Bernard’s wine. It does fade towards the chewy finish with sage and bay leaf, but this is turning into a decent Pessac ’03. Tasted March 2013.

This evolved 2003 exhibits lots of smoky barbecue spices intermixed with notes of cedarwood, underbrush, damp forest, plums and figs. Medium-bodied, fully mature and relatively complex, it requires consumption over the next 4-5 years.

(a blend of 63% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 7% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc) Full red-ruby. Sappy aromas of currant, crushed strawberry, bitter cherry, chocolate, tobacco, mace and tarry oak. Sappy and fresh, with very ripe, bright flavors of cherry, plum, spices, minerals, tar and tobacco leaf. This is balanced and harmonious but comes across as tight and a bit reduced today; not yet fleshy but not hard either. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins and notes of smoke and roasted red fruits. Has a relatively high pH of 3.92, but the alcohol is a reasonable 12.7%. Under consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, some of this wine was still being stirred on its lees at the beginning of April.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Harvested 9 to 26 September. Deep core with brick at the rim. Subtle sous-bois and red-fruit notes. Perhaps a note of prune but fresh all the same. Sweet palate but sufficient acidity to provide freshness. A bit monotone but very good for the vintage and still holding up. Slightly drying finish. (JL)