2006 Domaine de Chevalier, Rouge Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Domaine de Chevalier, Rouge Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2006

Region: Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan

Tasting Notes and Scores

96 JS

This is very tight and powerful with sliced pear and apple character. Some meringue pie too. Full-bodied, firm and persistent. Very tight. Gorgeous. Drink or hold.
– jamesuckling.com, OCt 2015

James Suckling

92 RP

The brilliant St.-Emilion-based consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt, is working his magic at this great vineyard in Leognan. The 2006, a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, is a revelation of sweet, lush, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with subtle notes of scorched earth and barbecue spices. Round, luscious, sexy, and exceptionally complex, the wine is dominated by that smoky minerality that comes from this area. It is the quintessentially elegant yet substantial Pessac-Leognan with class, complexity, and potential. Despite wanting to drink most of the bottle when I was tasting it, I know it will be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for two decades. Drink 2011-2031.
– Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2009)

Wine Advocate

91 WI

Bright ruby-red. Black fruits, licorice, tobacco and cedary oak on the nose. Dense and fine-grained, with a distinctly cool quality to the black fruit and floral flavors. Pliant in the middle palate but with cedar, floral and herbal notes providing very good lift. This rich, chewy wine boasts lovely depth of flavor and finishes with sweet tannins and noteworthy energy.
– vinous.com, May 2009

Wine Independent

91 WS

There's attractive blackberry and light vanilla, with a hint of licorice. Full-bodied, with a caressing texture, very pretty fruit and notes of chocolate and licorice. Best from 2014 through 2018.
– JS (WineSpectator.com, March 2009)

Wine Spectator

90 NM

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Domaine de Chevalier has smudged red plum, bergamot and stewed black tea scents on the nose - quite fragrant if just missing some delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with taut, quite firm tannin. Dark and broody, this is a surprisingly introspective Domaine de Chevalier with a grippy, quite assertive finish. This is a satisfying wine from Olivier Bernard, though at the moment you get the feeling that somebody has said something to this 2006 that has put it into a bad mood. I find there is more finesse on other recent vintage,s but you never know with Domaine de Chevalier because at any given moment it can blossom. Tasted January 2016. Drink 2016-2026.
– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

Neal Martin

88 AG

Deep ruby. Blackcurrant, camphor and a peppery note on the nose, plus a hint of a green streak. Suave in texture but peppery and simple in the mouth, with a leafy, herbal quality and a general lack of fruit suggesting only moderate ripeness. Turns a bit dry on the back. Some might like this wine's autumnal, herbal personality more than I did; perhaps I caught it at an awkward stage. In fairness, the vast majority of critics have scored this wine highly.
– Ian D'Agata (Vinous.com, April 2013)

Antonio Galloni

Domaine de Chevalier, Rouge Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan