Decanted back into bottle 30 mins prior to steak dinner. Smell from decanter was some BDX funk and leather- love it. In glass, poured dark red nearly no browning at rim. Nose and flavors of leather, turned earth mixed with dark plums with chocolate. Runs a line of Old School Bordeaux and a touch modern style- which makes this wine interesting. Wife kept her glass empty fast after each pour. She loved it too. From first glass to last glass 3 hours later, this wine held up just fine. Should be good for another 2-3 years at least. Drinks wonderful now, especially with food.
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Nice second wine that does not break the bank. Minimal decant and it is ready to go. Dark red ruby, beautiful nose of cherries and blackberries, some anise, tobacco, hint of rose hips, scorched earth and herbaceous notes. Palate is medium body, red and black fruit, blackberry compote and cherries, cola and white pepper, fine tannins, good acidity. Medium finish. Could get 1-2 points better in few years but delicious now.
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375mL Bottled under DIAM5, now 7 years old, but still super young appearing; purple with a magenta rim. Smells quite fruits forward: blackberries, super ripe raspberries, mixed berry preserves, mulberry. There is also a notable vanilla scent that must be coming from oak. Medium body, medium acid, medium plus tannins that are fine grained and not obtrusive. The flavors are very primary, red and black mixed in profile, quite ripe. Finish is on the short side.
To my palate, tastes quite Merlot heavy (even though on 45% according to the label on the back). Very little in the way of the Bordeaux graphite, cedar, pencil shavings, cigar box etc etc that I love so much. Even at 7 years old in 375mL format, this wine is super young. Maybe this wine just needs more time, but my hunch is that this is as good as it's going to get. Just seems to lack a bit of depth- but what do you expect for $15?
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Actually liked this more than the 2015 Labegorce at about 3/5 the price. Easy and ripe but actually fresher than the Labegorce. Probably better in 2-3 years but won't beat up your palate if you gave it some air today.
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Expressive nose, juicy black fruits. Black cherries. Sweet oak spice. Some vanilla. Hints of blackcurrants. On the palate has good freshness. Plums and blackcurrants with grainy tannins. Drinks perfectly now. Good wind with a onglet and salad.
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Mid purple-red, the nose has light spice, red plum and blackcurrant open to summer pudding. A soft, juicy entry underscored by a bright acidity pushes the wine upwards. Medium-bodied, there is some fleshy fruit, more redcurrant and red plum on the palate. The tannins are soft but have a delicate edge to frame this very approachable wine. A lovely second wine with a smooth exit showing a touch of spice. Medium length.
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I think this needs a couple more years in the cellar to calm down and better integrate. I will probably leave the rest of these alone until 2024 or 2025. Fragrant blackberries and red currants upon opening, and dark purple-red in the decanter. We let this breathe for about 2 hours with a light swirl and sip on the side to mark its progress. I continue to detect subtle sulfurous notes which disappear after swirling, but which creep back into the glass if you let it sit. It tastes like wine, yes, and not a bad one. But it hasn't yet showed me any of the expected nuance of a wine from Pessac-Leognan, and especially not from Domaine de Chevalier. My expectations for this second wine may have been too high. I'm rating it based on how I've experienced it today. I hope when I come back to it in a few years it will rate better. 86 points for now. *Adding a note - After 3 hours the worst qualities had mellowed significantly. So did some of the initial fruit qualities, but it was worth it to have the wine speak in a more balanced way. I think right now the cab is talking too much and the merlot not enough. Still going to hold in the cellar for a while before opening another one, but much more enjoyable after 3 hours in the decanter. Revising my score to 88, but only after a long decant. Maybe a 90 in a few more years.
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This 2nd from Domain de Chevalier did not disappoint. It was opened and decanted two hours before serving with a mushroom and Gruyère polenta as the main course. It was a beautiful match - the earthiness of the wine brought out the rosemary and thyme in the dish. The wine was perfectly open, well married, balanced, and smooth on the palet. Fruity but with a hint of spice. A classic example of Bordeaux. It’s drinking quite well right now (when decanted in advance). Some might consider it a bit young, but I enjoyed it now.
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Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of plum jam, cassis, baking spices, dust and barnyard; dry; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; medium alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of black licorice, cocoa and nutmeg; medium plus finish; drink now or in a few years; nice second label
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Mid-deep ruby in the glass, with fresh, dark fruits on the nose. There is a touch of earthiness too, adding a savory complexity.
The palate is fresh & fine, with a compact core of dark cherries surrounded by ripe, chalky tannins. There is a stony, earthy nuance throughout that adds a real layer of intrigue for me.
Pure dark fruits drive the medium finish, enduring with a hint of sweet spice.
This is approachable now with a light decant, but it has the stuffing to go longer.
For a weeknight pork chop grill session, this wine is perfect for 30 bucks. Macerated cherries and bruised raspberries along with crisp acidity and dark Earth undertones make for a very pleasant drink alongside char grilled pork chops. Happy to drink this anytime. Excellent QPR in Bordeaux land. Yum
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PnP. Medium dark red. Nose of ripe cabernet fruit and some graphite. Ripe but balanced on the palate - not a lot of tannins to resolve. Nice wine and drinking reasonably well at age 5.
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Given a few hour decant this was much better than expected. I could see time helping this, but less than expected. Tannins were not obtrusive and fruit was pleasant. Great with a New York Strip.
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Bright and tight. Good fruits, more red and tangy than I was expecting, with a strong acidic undertone. It mellowed considerably on the second day and shows some promise, especially if you like more new world styled bords with verve and zest.
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The red fruit is bright and forward, but the wine smells and tastes like chemical yeast in the manner of Le Beaujolais nouveau, and I hate that. Not a wine for my palate.
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Delicious. 2016 is a vintage that has produced high quality even on second wines. It is drinkable now but enough substance to sustain a decade of aging. Dark, dusty, earthy and minty. Really enjoyed it.
Right now in a delicious spot! There is quite some ripeness, as the colour is pretty dark and there is beautiful sweetness on the nose and on the palate. Stylistically I probably would not have guessed that this wine is from the Domaine de Chevalier-stable. So lush and easy to consume. Yet there is also a good sense of balance due to the freshness, fine-grained tannin and low alcohol. This may not be as good a substitute for the grand vin as C de Carmes Haut-Brion in 2016, but a delicious, well made and price-worthy wine it surely is.
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Tasting some Pessac-Léognans 2016 vintage (Château Bouscaut): I like the nose on this second wine. The attack is a tad raw and "high toned", but it finishes long and focused. Overall rather balanced and refined! This is a fine second wine, indeed, with a medium finish. Blending 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, clocking in at 13% alcohol.
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2/23/2024 - SCM Fan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted back into bottle 30 mins prior to steak dinner. Smell from decanter was some BDX funk and leather- love it. In glass, poured dark red nearly no browning at rim. Nose and flavors of leather, turned earth mixed with dark plums with chocolate. Runs a line of Old School Bordeaux and a touch modern style- which makes this wine interesting. Wife kept her glass empty fast after each pour. She loved it too. From first glass to last glass 3 hours later, this wine held up just fine. Should be good for another 2-3 years at least. Drinks wonderful now, especially with food.
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8/16/2023 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice second wine that does not break the bank. Minimal decant and it is ready to go. Dark red ruby, beautiful nose of cherries and blackberries, some anise, tobacco, hint of rose hips, scorched earth and herbaceous notes. Palate is medium body, red and black fruit, blackberry compote and cherries, cola and white pepper, fine tannins, good acidity. Medium finish. Could get 1-2 points better in few years but delicious now.
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7/12/2023 - NoahCap wrote:
375mL Bottled under DIAM5, now 7 years old, but still super young appearing; purple with a magenta rim. Smells quite fruits forward: blackberries, super ripe raspberries, mixed berry preserves, mulberry. There is also a notable vanilla scent that must be coming from oak. Medium body, medium acid, medium plus tannins that are fine grained and not obtrusive. The flavors are very primary, red and black mixed in profile, quite ripe. Finish is on the short side.
To my palate, tastes quite Merlot heavy (even though on 45% according to the label on the back). Very little in the way of the Bordeaux graphite, cedar, pencil shavings, cigar box etc etc that I love so much. Even at 7 years old in 375mL format, this wine is super young. Maybe this wine just needs more time, but my hunch is that this is as good as it's going to get. Just seems to lack a bit of depth- but what do you expect for $15?
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7/1/2023 - ducster72 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Actually liked this more than the 2015 Labegorce at about 3/5 the price. Easy and ripe but actually fresher than the Labegorce. Probably better in 2-3 years but won't beat up your palate if you gave it some air today.
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5/10/2023 - Marius Cavasdan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Expressive nose, juicy black fruits. Black cherries. Sweet oak spice. Some vanilla. Hints of blackcurrants. On the palate has good freshness. Plums and blackcurrants with grainy tannins. Drinks perfectly now. Good wind with a onglet and salad.
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5/5/2023 - tristand wrote: 89 Points
Fruits forward, juicy, ripe black and red fruits
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1/7/2023 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 88 Points
Mid purple-red, the nose has light spice, red plum and blackcurrant open to summer pudding.
A soft, juicy entry underscored by a bright acidity pushes the wine upwards. Medium-bodied, there is some fleshy fruit, more redcurrant and red plum on the palate. The tannins are soft but have a delicate edge to frame this very approachable wine. A lovely second wine with a smooth exit showing a touch of spice. Medium length.
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9/16/2022 - Jeanda wrote: 88 Points
Sans doute trop jeune. Le boisé domine encore trop et le vin ne se livre pas beaucoup. Attendre 2025
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8/13/2022 - BuckeyeBenS wrote: 88 Points
I think this needs a couple more years in the cellar to calm down and better integrate. I will probably leave the rest of these alone until 2024 or 2025. Fragrant blackberries and red currants upon opening, and dark purple-red in the decanter. We let this breathe for about 2 hours with a light swirl and sip on the side to mark its progress. I continue to detect subtle sulfurous notes which disappear after swirling, but which creep back into the glass if you let it sit. It tastes like wine, yes, and not a bad one. But it hasn't yet showed me any of the expected nuance of a wine from Pessac-Leognan, and especially not from Domaine de Chevalier. My expectations for this second wine may have been too high. I'm rating it based on how I've experienced it today. I hope when I come back to it in a few years it will rate better. 86 points for now.
*Adding a note - After 3 hours the worst qualities had mellowed significantly. So did some of the initial fruit qualities, but it was worth it to have the wine speak in a more balanced way. I think right now the cab is talking too much and the merlot not enough. Still going to hold in the cellar for a while before opening another one, but much more enjoyable after 3 hours in the decanter. Revising my score to 88, but only after a long decant. Maybe a 90 in a few more years.
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7/12/2022 - Quiet Lion wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, improved with some air. Beautifully earthy Graves with lots of charred earth on the finish.
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5/6/2022 - WineTraveler42 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This 2nd from Domain de Chevalier did not disappoint. It was opened and decanted two hours before serving with a mushroom and Gruyère polenta as the main course. It was a beautiful match - the earthiness of the wine brought out the rosemary and thyme in the dish. The wine was perfectly open, well married, balanced, and smooth on the palet. Fruity but with a hint of spice. A classic example of Bordeaux. It’s drinking quite well right now (when decanted in advance). Some might consider it a bit young, but I enjoyed it now.
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1/22/2022 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of plum jam, cassis, baking spices, dust and barnyard; dry; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; medium alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of black licorice, cocoa and nutmeg; medium plus finish; drink now or in a few years; nice second label
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10/25/2021 - KillerJones Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid-deep ruby in the glass, with fresh, dark fruits on the nose. There is a touch of earthiness too, adding a savory complexity.
The palate is fresh & fine, with a compact core of dark cherries surrounded by ripe, chalky tannins. There is a stony, earthy nuance throughout that adds a real layer of intrigue for me.
Pure dark fruits drive the medium finish, enduring with a hint of sweet spice.
This is approachable now with a light decant, but it has the stuffing to go longer.
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8/25/2021 - TXRhoneRanger wrote: 92 Points
For a weeknight pork chop grill session, this wine is perfect for 30 bucks. Macerated cherries and bruised raspberries along with crisp acidity and dark Earth undertones make for a very pleasant drink alongside char grilled pork chops. Happy to drink this anytime. Excellent QPR in Bordeaux land. Yum
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5/3/2021 - rosenst1 wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Medium dark red. Nose of ripe cabernet fruit and some graphite. Ripe but balanced on the palate - not a lot of tannins to resolve. Nice wine and drinking reasonably well at age 5.
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7/10/2020 - ChrisWagner Likes this wine: 89 Points
Given a few hour decant this was much better than expected. I could see time helping this, but less than expected. Tannins were not obtrusive and fruit was pleasant. Great with a New York Strip.
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6/9/2020 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 89 Points
Bright and tight. Good fruits, more red and tangy than I was expecting, with a strong acidic undertone. It mellowed considerably on the second day and shows some promise, especially if you like more new world styled bords with verve and zest.
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1/4/2020 - Best QPR Tracker Does not like this wine: 80 Points
The red fruit is bright and forward, but the wine smells and tastes like chemical yeast in the manner of Le Beaujolais nouveau, and I hate that. Not a wine for my palate.
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11/27/2019 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious. 2016 is a vintage that has produced high quality even on second wines. It is drinkable now but enough substance to sustain a decade of aging. Dark, dusty, earthy and minty. Really enjoyed it.
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7/14/2019 - Eric Becker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Right now in a delicious spot! There is quite some ripeness, as the colour is pretty dark and there is beautiful sweetness on the nose and on the palate. Stylistically I probably would not have guessed that this wine is from the Domaine de Chevalier-stable. So lush and easy to consume. Yet there is also a good sense of balance due to the freshness, fine-grained tannin and low alcohol.
This may not be as good a substitute for the grand vin as C de Carmes Haut-Brion in 2016, but a delicious, well made and price-worthy wine it surely is.
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1/15/2019 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasting some Pessac-Léognans 2016 vintage (Château Bouscaut): I like the nose on this second wine. The attack is a tad raw and "high toned", but it finishes long and focused. Overall rather balanced and refined! This is a fine second wine, indeed, with a medium finish. Blending 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, clocking in at 13% alcohol.
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