Domaine de Chevalier 2022 Rouge Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé

James Suckling
98-99/100 punten
Wow. This is incredibly structured and powerful with ultra-fine tannins that are tight and layered. It’s full and powerful with carved muscles of tannins. This will need so much time.

Jeb Dunnuck
(96-98)/100 punten
As to the Grand Vin 2022 Domaine De Chevalier, this awesome Graves is based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Vinified in a mix of concrete and wood tanks, with a portion seeing malolactic fermentation in barrel, it offers a deep purple/ruby hue as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoke tobacco, and damp earth. Reminding me of a supercharged version of the 2016, it's full-bodied and has a layered, silky mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Released with a new, one-off label, the 2022 celebrates Olivier Bernard's 40th year at the château, and it's certainly a wine worth seeking out. 

The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
(96-98/100) punten
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out of the glass with show-stopping scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and redcurrant preserves, leading to suggestions of candied violets, cinnamon stick, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled, with bright, nuanced black and red berry layers beautifully supported by fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, leading to a very long and perfumed finish on this stunning wine. pH 3.64. 

Neal Martin (Vinous)
(95-97)/100 punten
The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier was picked from 5-30 September and represents the 40th vintage under the irrepressible Olivier Bernard, who celebrates with a one-off label. It soars from the glass with take-no-prisoner aromatics: perfumed mineral-rich red berry fruit, incense and black truffle. Pessac-like earthiness with an opposing airiness defines many a great wine from this estate. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Slightly powdery in texture and saline in the mouth, this gets the saliva flowing. However, the arching structure on the finish suggests it will require considerable bottle age. Cellar this for a couple of decades, and you'll be repaid handsomely. 14% alcohol. 

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider)
(96-98)/100 punten
Almost opaque in color, the wine is equally dark in the nose with black cherries, black berries, black plums, licorice, Cuban cigar wrappers, smoke, burning wood and cocoa. Silky, elegant, plummy, rich and loaded with chocolate-covered, dark pit fruits, espresso and black cherries. There is intensity as well as silkiness and energy in the long finish. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV, 3.60 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 28. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Condition in the vineyards were extremely dry with only 30 MM of rain during the summer, making this the estates driest vintage in history. This is also the second 100% biodynamically farmed vintage. More importantly, bottles will feature a special label celebrating 2022 as it was Olivier Bernard's 40th vintage at Domaine de Chevalier.  (96-98/100)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
(94-96)/100 punten
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier delivers aromas of minty dark berries, cherries and ripe plums mingled with hints of licorice, coniferous forest and spices. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and layered, textured and elegant, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, penetrating, long finish. Olivier Bernard and his team have crafted an outstanding wine that will bear a special label commemorating his 40th vinification at this Péssac-Léognan reference point. 

Decanter
95/100 punten
 Lovely detail and precision with plump, ripe fruit, good concentration and intensity, mouthfilling tannins that have a lovely texture and overall length. Feels really well made, structured and vibrant , not taken too far with a really appealing flavour and texture. Just lovely, fresh, lifted, still concentrated with underlying power but delivered seamlessly. A brilliant compelling utterly moreish wine. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. A yield of 40hl/ha.

Falstaff
95/100 punten
Deep dark ruby garnet colour with opaque core and purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Fine savoury bouquet of ripe cherries, hints of blackberry, cassis and fresh orange zest, subtle notes of noble oak. Complex, juicy and elegant, good freshness, ripe tannins, chocolatey and mineral finish, very good length, promising ageing potential.

Jancis Robinson
17/20 punten
Deep crimson. Intensely mineral, highly distinctive, nose. Very different from the sweet fruit-bombs elsewhere. Racy and likely to age well in the Dom de Chevalier tradition. Sinewy but by no means meagre. Very much its own style. Cool and fresh but with fruit that is quite ripe enough and massively mineral. Intense with lots tucked in there for future development. Clean, fresh, appetising finish. (18/20)

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux)
96/100 punten
Showing how it's done in 2022, Domaine de Chevalier comes in strong with a deep ruby red colour, a vibrant rim, smoked oak on the nose, edges of tar, red roses, liquorice root, and a confident delivery of full-on tannic architecture that frames the cassis and bilberry fruit. Delivers vintage signature in a carefully controlled way, with enough slate, pummice stone, mint and eucalyptus to balance things out and slow down delivery. The fruits are fully ripe, heading towards baked plum and fig, but met step by step with a corresponding cooling flavour. 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard (meaning a special label). (96/100)