Knights and Dragons
After a brief interlude for Pentecost we are back in the zone with another full day of releases. Today’s highlights are the sublime Domaine de Chevalier and the magnificent Chateau Beychevelle.
Olivier Bernard has built a reputation for generous and ever-so-charming Pessacs of both persuasions. This year the red is sumptuous and gracious, a relaxed and fluid wine with beautiful textural fruit from start to finish. The blanc is clearly one of the most engaging white wines from Bordeaux, which marries a plentiful core of fruit with a steely intensity. Both will have long and distinguished futures ahead.
The ever-popular Beychevelle just gets better and better. Under the watchful eye of Philippe Blanc and his team of Erwan Le Brozec and Romain Ducolomb, recent vintages have developed an impressive focus and purity, and despite their genial style, have proven to be amongst the most serious wines of St Julien in blind tastings. If you’re not already a follower, it’s time to get on the boat!
Beychevelle
“The 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and lavender build in the glass. This juicy, extroverted Saint-Julien has a ton to offer. The combination of fruit intensity, acid and supporting structure is superb. The 2023 is showy, but not at all overdone. Beychevelle remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. It is especially classy in this edition. Tasted two times. 2033-2063” – 94/96, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge
“The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier is beautifully resonant in the glass. Deep, layered and quite persistent, the 2023 has so much to offer. In many vintages, this red needs time to be at its best, but this edition has enough forward fruit to make me think it will drink well with minimal cellaring, even if the acids remain brisk. Graphite, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and rose petal build into the tense, saline-infused finish. The 2023 is all finesse. 2030-2063” – 94/96, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc
“The 2023 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is one of the best dry whites of the year. Creamy and expansive, with terrific brightness, this exudes balance. Citrus, white pepper, mint, almond, pear and crushed rocks are some of the notes that build as the 2023 shows off its pedigree. I expect it will offer exceptional drinking for the next several decades. What else is new? 2030 – 2053” – 94/96, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
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