Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan 2021

97 points James Suckling: "This is very impressive for the vintage, with a vertical depth and structure of extremely polished tannins. It’s full and precise, with berries, dark chocolate, bark, iodine and walnuts throughout. Extremely well done. Best after 2027. (7/8/24)"

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$70 list] This estate, owned by the Bernard family, has produced a ripe, elegant wine. It shows great black fruits and some solid tannins that will stand the wine in good stead as it ages. An impressive wine for the vintage. Drink from 2027. Alcohol 13.5%. (Apr 2024)"

95 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Medium-bodied, energetic, soft, elegant, and refined, this is a beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Texturally, this is where the wine shines with its silky qualities blended with ample lift, purity and freshness. This is quite an accomplishment for any vintage, but with the challenging 2021, it is really saying something! The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, making this one of the highest percentages of Cabernet even used in the blend here. The is the first vintage that was produced being 100% biodynamic in the vineyards, thus, yield were quite low.. Drink from 2025-2050. (3/9/24)"

94+ points Yohan Castaing (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier reveals a deep, complex bouquet with aromas of blackberries and blueberries mingled with spices, cigar wrapper and coniferous forest floor, followed by a medium to full-bodied, sweet and concentrated palate animated by bright acids and framed by fine, powdery tannins. It's an impressive effort that will reward a bit of bottle age. It's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink: 2023-2040. (2/8/24)"

94+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier comes across as quite shy and reticent in this vintage. The aromatics are beguiling, but on the palate, the wine feels a bit strict and clamped down. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, spice, mint and blood orange emerge, but only with great reluctance. It will be interesting to see how the 2021 develops over time. Tasted twice. Drink: 2031-2061. (Feb 2024)"

94+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It needs some patient swirling and shaking to wake up notes of crushed blackcurrants, kirsch, and juicy plums, followed by nuances of violets, mossy tree bark, and wild sage. The medium-bodied palate has a wonderfully fine-grained texture and great tension supporting the tightly wound red and black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed. Drink: 2026-2039. (4/23/24)"

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc). Great stuff, with momentum building from beginning to end, blueberry, black cherry fruits, delivered with an extra kick of liqourice and chocolate. Needs time to age, but feels like it will reward a good five to six years in bottle, and is one of the few where you don't have to excuse the vintage - just enjoy an earlier-drinker, well sculpted year. 30hl/h yield. In organic conversion. An upsocre. Drink: 2026-2041. (12/6/23)"

94 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "Cherry blossom and ripe cherry on the nose. Smooth and supple, a nice energy and focus to this straight away with lifted acidity and a chalky core that is super mineral and laced with liquorice and wet stones. Feels like a serious wine with well-handled oak and tannins on the prominent side but really supportive and giving the frame. Needs to age, but more importantly it feels like it will be able to age and develop really well. Lots of life and style to this. A great effort. I like this alot. Drinking Window: 2026-2040. (Dec 2023)"