Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Grand Cru Classé, 2011
Olivier Bernard's Domaine de Chevalier is always one of the elite wines in Pessac Leognan. The spring frosts were quite uneven here, sparing the large plateau in front of the chateau, but decimating many other plots. Thankfully, the plateau had a successful and early crop with good yields. Rich, but also bright and juicy with notes of fruit pastilles, ripe plum, a hint of gravel, stones, cooked meats, smoke and spice. This is rather lovely, it isn't especially challenging, but it is generous, fleshy, and quite persistent, framed with perfectly ripe tannins. Produced from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.
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.