Community Tasting Note

PSPatrick wrote:

Saturday, May 5, 2012 - Popped, poured into a decanter and served the first glass immediately; consumed over four days. The wine gained colour with air and ended up bright dark purple in colour. It offered violets, sweet fruits (black currant, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry), cherry cream liqueur, coffee and chocolate on the nose; from day two it also developed an intense vanilla aroma. On the palate the wine was a little closed at first, but opened-up within minutes, showing mixed fruit flavours (blueberry, blackberry, cherry, raspberry, currant), chocolate, roasted coffee, and from day two also an intense and creamy vanilla/crème brûlée flavour. In fact, the oak-flavours became very prominent from day two and will need time to integrate. The medium-bodied wine had a smooth and creamy texture and was ripe but round and somewhat elegant, with an incredibly long finish.

The wine was enjoyable right after popping the cork, but not as "I-take-no-prisoners"-seductive as the Château d’Aiguilhe 2009 I had recently, and drank consistently well over four days. It showed lots of California sunshine and I probably had not guessed Bordeaux in a blind tasting. The tannins were so ripe that they were barely noticeable underneath the ripe fruit and some of the 2009s, including this Domaine de Chevalier, are the most drinkable young Bordeaux I came across so far. The wine is very young, fruit-driven and oak-dominated and although it is drinkable now I would recommend holding your bottles for three to five years. For drinking now I clearly prefer the Domaine de Chevalier 2005 to the 2009. With view to 2009 Bordeaux, at their current stages I prefer the Château d’Aiguilhe 2009 to the Domaine de Chevalier 2009, but I am also sure that the Chevalier will be able to turn the tables in a few years.

Post a Comment / View PSPatrick's profile
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (12,510 views)