critic reviews
The 2011 Domaine de Chevalier feels a little feral on the nose, perhaps with just a touch of brett? Still, attractive in its own way. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite fleshy and rounded, smooth in texture though it is just missing a little complexity and appellation character on the finish. Not bad, though as a big fan of this estate I might have wanted more. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
A spectacular effort, especially for this challenging vintage, Olivier Bernards 2011 Domaine de Chevalier boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of subtle charcoal, graphite, black currants and black cherries. Rich and full-bodied with a multilayered mouthfeel and a long, complex, stunning finish, this is a profound example of a 2011 from a great terroir. Consume it over the next 20 years.