In the last 2 weeks, I've had the pleasure of drinking 4 top Bordeaux Blancs: Chateau Carbonnieux 2020 and 2018, Smith Haut Lafitte 2017, and this one. This was the winner. Better acidity and some green fruit along with some more ripe stone fruit and body. Beautiful Bordeaux Blanc -- not sure it can get much better. Drinks well as an aperitif and with food.
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40th anniversary tasting (L'Esprit du Vin - Axelborg): My notes from this fantastic gigantic tasting are in general extremely short (because of the many wines) but with ratings. We spent a whole day tasting and tasting quality wines.
This wine: Why is white Bordeaux so underestimated? Even for a white Burgundy lover this is outstanding. For a rounding of the price for Burgundy. Can definitely drink now but also suitable for further ageing. 93+
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Medium intensity on the nose with lemon, oak spices, white peach, green notes, chamomile, smokey, grapefruit. Medium+ acidity, very long finish. 92-93 Very good, but it didn’t steal my heart for some reason. Best on day 2, on day 3 on decline
Under DIAM 30
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A private dinner (Café Parlotte, Amsterdam, NL): Consistent with my previous notes. A magnificent vintage for Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, rich and supremely stylish. On fine form right now, great future.
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The opening wine at a Bordeaux night with my wine group and a big hit with everyone. A little bigger mouth feel than Delille Cellar's homage to it, with a long finish. I don't know much about aging white wines, but one of my group members feels it can age for years and years. I'll try and hold off on my remaining 2 bottles.
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Served one hour after taking out of fridge - I would say close to cellar temperature. Delicate nose of chamomile and oak. Medium acidity, beautiful palate with peach, yellow apples, qumquat notes and, followed by a hint of alcohol and some aromatic herb notes of oregano and rosemary that preceded refined oaky notes on the medium+ ending. A very pleasant and subtle wine - great by itself and that we enjoyed with squid spaghetti allo scoglio. Drink now or in the next 10-15 years - no rush here!
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The most Burgundian Bordeaux Blanc I’ve ever tasted. A blend of 75% SB and 25% Semillon. Aged on its lees for 18 months in oak, 35% new. Pale golden. Pronounced elegant aroma of white peaches, apricots, flint, melon, asparagus, honey, wet stones, lemon zest, passionfruit, smoke. Palate is vibrant, tense and absorbing with creamy and tat spicy texture, fragrantly expressive multifaceted flavours of lemon tart, apples, passionfruit, almonds, vanilla, lemons, crisp high acidity and long salty and smoky finish.
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Nez de sauvignon, buis, floral, fruits jaunes, ananas, sans être très tendu, il y a juste assez d’acidité pour supporter le tout, très bien et fait changement de boire du Bordeaux blanc. 90-91
Sauvignon nose, floral, pineapple, yellow fruit, just enough acidity to support the richness, nice.
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Served without enough air and too cold, but showing nicely (and similarly to prior) nonetheless. I reiterate that this requires a few hours of air to show its best. Cellar temperature rather than ice bucket temperature works best.
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Rating stands but I want to note that this may be one of the most quentessiantial examples of dry bordeaux blanc. Yes 2015 a riper year but this wine keeps getting better and better with time. Has enough acidity and structure to stand up to medium spice Indian food. This wine will improve for 10 years or so and will last even longer.
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Domaine de Chevalier has always been (in my mind) the ultimate expression of white BDX, and so expectations are always high. Glad to say the 2015 did not disappoint.
Served at 10 degrees (c) with sea bass in beurre blanc and sage, the nose was stunningly floral and zingy right off the bat. As the wine warmed to around 12 degrees, the flavors opened up beautifully, displaying a range of citrusy notes, honey, peach and lavender. Gorgeous and ever evolving, with lovely texture and depth.
Another peak expression of this magnificent white, in a perfect spot right now - but from my experience with Domaine de Chevalier, this will continue to evolve beautifully for another decade at least.
92 points on the night.
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Académie des Cinquante 66th Annual Dinner (Zwanenbroedershuis, Den Bosch, NL): Clearly a top vintage for Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, intense, elegant, ripe fruit (grapefruit, pear and apple), attractive vegetal notes, seamless and silky, wonderfully integrated oak, peach and citrus, superb resonance and length.
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Although I’m not a huge fan of dry Bordeaux Blancs, this is truly exceptional: clear medium lemon color with specks of gold throughout; medium body; lots of fruit and floral intensity with white flowers, citrus blossom, clusters of grapefruit rind, lime zest, tart gooseberry, white peach, and green apple; developing complexity reflecting oak spice, cat urine, ashy and chalky minerals, salty stone, and deep herbal tones; displays wonderful balance of fruit, acidity and oak, with a very long and persistent finish. The addition of the Semillon is quite noticeable and adds lots of complexity to the wine. By far one of the best Bordeaux Blancs I’ve enjoyed in quite some time. First of three bottles in my cellar; this should drink well for another 10-12+ years. Outstanding white wine.
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Vibrant young wine. Pale yellow color. Intense complex aromas ranging from lime peel to passion fruit.?with greater aeration some hints of crème brûlée and classic Sémillon. Nicely balanced although perhaps slightly deficient in acidity due to the ripeness of the vintage. Lovely wine right now.
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This bottle didn’t have enough air to really show its best (strangely enough the white needs more air than the red). Tight still, but developing beautifully. Cream and smoke, gravelly mineral, lemon curd and honeysuckle. 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Sémillon. 18 months in 35% new oak.
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Note made on day 2, no decant, the wine under a well mannered cork and scored as 'Excellent' on the CT scale. Drunk out of ISO/Shiraz shape glass.
I understand this wine has minimal skin contact, is cold fermented and has a long time on lees, with regular stirring. It is fermented in oak (a proportion new) and undergoes no malolactic fermentation - bear this in mind given the relatively high natural acidity of Semillon, which makes up about 40% of the blend.
The colour is bright and leans towards white gold. The wine is obviously travelling well and still in its youth.
The nose is very redolent of Sauvignon Blanc during the first 12, or so, hours open. The element some describe as 'cat's piss' is certainly strong in those first 12 hours and never really goes away. I prefer to think this character is more herbaceous, with elements of geranium and thyme/oregano. One man's cat's piss is another man's flower? Something to think about, I guess.
As the wine grows into itself and the feline element subsides, lemon, a little vanilla oak and something like the smell of wet stones comes out to make this a pleasing wine, to me. The palate has some distinct minerality and the finish is long and quite intense. The structure is pleasingly flinty after an initial hint of creaminess. Finish is bone dry.
There is a lot to like here and I can't quibble with other tasters praise for the wine. I think it will age beautifully and in 10 years it might well be 'outstanding'. I am not convinced it represents value but that is a more subjective matter. Thoroughly enjoyable, unless you are a Sauvignon hater - and you are being marked for judgement later, if you are one.
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Another excellent showing from this, showing a strongly tropical profile. This should reach its apogee perhaps in 3-5 years and it needs a lot (hours) of air to show its best.
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I had this as the opening wine at a 1990s Cabernet night, and this was a huge hit with my wine group. Most of the group had it alongside raw oysters, while I had a shrimp and tomato salad. It complemented both perfectly. Notes on CT say it has the potential to improve with age, but this was my last bottle. Long finish and the notes of petrol that I picked up on a previous bottle were not there in this one.
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Bah, I pulled this one too early. Too much forward sauvignon blanc cat pee/passion fruit/grapefruit at this time. The kiss of vanilla oak isn't integrated as well as it can given some more age. Despite this, I did enjoy the honeyed lemony mineral finish and high acid of this one. Just lay it down for a little longer though.
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From half bottle. Gooseberry, kaki fruit with a salty crust. Vegetal elements. A very nice combination of creamy texture and crisp acidty. A nicely herbal palate. ok length finish. A solid white Bordeaux.
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This wine needs more time to develop depth. Wrong pairing with Salmon Tartar. The olive oil hid the acidity in the wine. Should have served with a cooked fish dish. I look forward to trying again in 3-5 years. Drink 2025-33.
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Rich, opulent, luscious, and intense, the wine remains on the primary side. Concentrated, ripe, sweet, and packed with layers of fresh yellow citrus, orange rind, crushed rocks, and flowers, give it at least another 5 years to develop additional nuances.
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Robe jaune très pâle, pastel. Le nez est original et engageant. Je ne parviens pas à mettre un mot sur ce que je sens mais c’est très bon. Le vin s’ouvre avec peu d’aération et n’évoluera ensuite plus beaucoup. La bouche est excellente quoiqu’un petit peu contenue. Peut-être qu’un peu de temps l’améliorera encore. En tous les cas, je renoue avec plaisir avec ce vin suite à un 2007 bu il y a quelques années et qui était trop oxydé à mon goût.
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Really improves with some air. Very young. At first it almost tastes sweet, which I think is the oak, but with air that fades and the wine shows nice notes of gooseberry, fresh cut grass, herbs, green mango.
Also the wine has the longest DIAM cork I have ever pulled.
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Very tasty wine. Seemed a little fuller bodied compared to the Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc that I had alongside it. I picked up some notes of petrol on the nose.
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See my note 2 days ago. After 48 hours an impeccable wine, all irregularities are smoothened out and tastes alternate in the mouth with cinnamon (!?) on the forefront. Fantastic wine.
Overwhelming crispy freshness with fresh herbs and quite strong bitters giving high tension. Mouth-filling, long finish, bitters till the end. Beautiful, not an all-mens-friend.
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Really improves after an hour of air. Then fairly ripe flavors of peach and orange zest with good underlying acidity. Lovely round texture that’s slightly oily and quite smooth. The finish is smoky and tangy with notes of clove and honeyed minerals. A very good white Bordeaux that drinks well now but is probably a few years away from peak. 92+
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Previous bottles for me were 95+, but this bottle falls short of that range. Great grassy nose accompanied by tropical notes. The palate is sweet and creamy, and lacks the energy of previous bottles. A little bitterness shows up at the end. This is still a fantastic wine, but it’s hard to justify buying more bottles based on this showing. Bottle variance or age?
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you can really taste the presence of the lees in this wine. It definitely adds complexity, as well as some hay, green apple, and (positive) cheese rind flavors. Maybe even a little minty herb. Lengthy due to the persistent acidity that hangs in the back of your cheeks long after the swallow.
I actually prefer this to the Smith Haut Lafitte of the same vintage for its better concentration and acidity.
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Zachy's Auction - May 2019 (Upper Story): Very fresh. This is a white wine that does a good job of cutting through all of the reds and standing up to them ok. It's got lime and just a hint of the green leaf note. Makes the wine come across as very bright. Drinking well right now despite the young age.
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Litt røkt kjøtt over smør, noe moden frukt, urter. Svært friskt anslag i munnen, flott mineralitet. Noe melon etterhvert i smaken før den går over i en deilig, syrlig utgang med litt saltpreg og kanskje noe klementin. Herlig vin allerede, helt sikkert mye å hente på lagring.
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Frisk og saftige hvite stenfrukter med en meget pen nerve. Strammer til og får et komplekst duftbilde med smørblomst og toffee. Middels anslag. Vokser godt og får en pen konsentrert og kremete stil. Virkelig frisk og med en bra nerve. Gule frukter, lime med et herlig trevirke. Vinen vil trenge tid i kjelleren for å finne den riktige balansen, men er verdt å vente på. 93 poeng. For nå.
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Green and white fruit on the nose, herbal, mixed with more generous yellow fruit element. On the palate very well balanced, rich but also really fresh and vibrant. Fine length, very elegant. 93-94+
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Heart's Delight Trade Tasting (Sofitel - Washington, DC): Wow, this is firing. Complex notes of lemon, pineapple, spiced nettle, white tea. Rich textural depth here, this is a big wine but maintains fresh acidity. Loaded with kumquat, lime, lychee, as well as notes of spiced white tea and honey. I'd love to taste this again in five years.
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Fine, full body, ripe and excellent dry extract lending substance and density, although I would think that the 1994 precision is superior. Still, you cannot go wrong with this richer styled white from Domaine de Chevalier!
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Clearly a contender for the top white Bordeaux wine, aside from you know who... The wine offers a crisp entry loaded with just squeezed lemon, pomelo, crushed rocks, lime and floral notes. Fresh and refreshing, concentrated and with racy acidity giving it lift, the honey and vanilla accents add just right amount of fatness to the wine. This is a beauty!
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UGC Tasting Amsterdam 2/5/2018: Not as silky as the SHL; this one needs more time. At the moment the acidity is a bit hefty, there are more (but very good) bitters and tannins. The bouquet shows some mint.
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Graves and Pessac Leognan from bottle: 2015 vintage (UGCB tastings in New York and Washington DC): An excellent white! Sure, not reaching the heights I think of the previous vintage, but there is excellent dry extract and structure for aging, even if the acidity is a bit lower than optimal. And this was a better showing than from barrel. The aromas presage opulence, with white pear and apricots aplenty combined with a seafaring saltiness that lends freshness. The palate includes some wet stone aspects that retain interest, even if there is a kind of broadness and a touch of headiness to the wine. Overall, an excellent white!
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UGC Bordeaux Tasting (2015 Vintage) (San Francisco): Domaine de Chevalier (blanc) - A lovely wine and above all other whites tasted this evening - except for the Smith-Haut-Laffite blanc. An ensemble of 70 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 30 percent Semillon. The DdC has a more typical profile dominated by grapefruit flavors on the nose and palate. Detected a lovely lime element and just touch of clove – the latter of which - I am not sure where it comes from. Maybe the barrels used or perhaps the Semillon varietal? Sometimes I detect a bit of forest flavors in this producer, but not this time. Still, very complex and is one of the best dry whites tried this evening.
Union Des Grand Crus de Bordeaux Tasting of the 2015 Vintage, nose of lovely fruit, touch of oak, grass, melon, lemon oil, and pineapple, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, needs four years to peak, has everything as usual including the price, and a medium/long finish.
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Tasted at a large Pop n pour tasting through Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. Agree completely with CT taster Alexisonsmith. Very bright, acidic, high citrus / lemon, out of balance right now but may go on to be fantastic in a few years.
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Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2015 (Montreal): Found this white still forming together. The balance was not quite where I would expect. This has potential to be a leader however for now it is no where close to being ready (3-5 years). High citrus, lemon pie, Sharpe finish. Will be interesting to re-visit this in 3+ years time
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2015 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting: This has not yet hit its stride but has all the hallmarks of a truly great white. Very lifted aromatics of green apple, chalk, lemon and lime peel, with nuances of fresh thyme, lemongrass, and wet stone. The new oak is noticeable but doesn't distract from the fruit - all is in balance. Persistent finish. Right now drinking like a 91 unless you pay very close attention. Will be magnificent in three to four years.
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Union des Grands Crus Boston: As with the red, the white is a huge success for Domaine de Chevalier in 2015. A sublime and brilliant nose; great depth of fruit (70% Sauvignon blanc, 30% Semillon), lanolin, mineral, wild flowers. Perfect weight on the palate with very correct balance. Super finish.
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The perfect blend of crushed rocks, assorted, fresh squeezed, yellow citrus fruits, a dab of honey and floral notes. Bright, crisp and refreshing, this wine has the uncanny ability to offer pleasure young, yet, age for decades. I've had enough of these wines at old age lately to know first hand, how well they can age and improve for decades.
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Bright and lively with an open, grapefruit, lemon zest, green apple and honeysuckle character, this wine is fresh, refreshing and long with a crisp, sweet, citrus-filled finish.
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5/2/2024 - NBouras915 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb fruit, balance and length. Loved it. Now thru 2028+
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2/6/2024 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 95 Points
In the last 2 weeks, I've had the pleasure of drinking 4 top Bordeaux Blancs: Chateau Carbonnieux 2020 and 2018, Smith Haut Lafitte 2017, and this one. This was the winner. Better acidity and some green fruit along with some more ripe stone fruit and body. Beautiful Bordeaux Blanc -- not sure it can get much better. Drinks well as an aperitif and with food.
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10/21/2023 - Kim Gerner wrote: 93 Points
40th anniversary tasting (L'Esprit du Vin - Axelborg): My notes from this fantastic gigantic tasting are in general extremely short (because of the many wines) but with ratings. We spent a whole day tasting and tasting quality wines.
This wine: Why is white Bordeaux so underestimated? Even for a white Burgundy lover this is outstanding. For a rounding of the price for Burgundy. Can definitely drink now but also suitable for further ageing. 93+
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10/17/2023 - ThijsV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium intensity on the nose with lemon, oak spices, white peach, green notes, chamomile, smokey, grapefruit. Medium+ acidity, very long finish. 92-93
Very good, but it didn’t steal my heart for some reason. Best on day 2, on day 3 on decline
Under DIAM 30
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8/25/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
A private dinner (Café Parlotte, Amsterdam, NL): Consistent with my previous notes. A magnificent vintage for Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, rich and supremely stylish. On fine form right now, great future.
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6/20/2023 - Ian_Rhie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells of lemon zest, peach, plum. what a nice bordeaux white!
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6/16/2023 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
The opening wine at a Bordeaux night with my wine group and a big hit with everyone. A little bigger mouth feel than Delille Cellar's homage to it, with a long finish. I don't know much about aging white wines, but one of my group members feels it can age for years and years. I'll try and hold off on my remaining 2 bottles.
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5/14/2023 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Served one hour after taking out of fridge - I would say close to cellar temperature. Delicate nose of chamomile and oak. Medium acidity, beautiful palate with peach, yellow apples, qumquat notes and, followed by a hint of alcohol and some aromatic herb notes of oregano and rosemary that preceded refined oaky notes on the medium+ ending. A very pleasant and subtle wine - great by itself and that we enjoyed with squid spaghetti allo scoglio. Drink now or in the next 10-15 years - no rush here!
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4/26/2023 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 94 Points
The most Burgundian Bordeaux Blanc I’ve ever tasted. A blend of 75% SB and 25% Semillon. Aged on its lees for 18 months in oak, 35% new. Pale golden. Pronounced elegant aroma of white peaches, apricots, flint, melon, asparagus, honey, wet stones, lemon zest, passionfruit, smoke. Palate is vibrant, tense and absorbing with creamy and tat spicy texture, fragrantly expressive multifaceted flavours of lemon tart, apples, passionfruit, almonds, vanilla, lemons, crisp high acidity and long salty and smoky finish.
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4/23/2023 - Mario17 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nez de sauvignon, buis, floral, fruits jaunes, ananas, sans être très tendu, il y a juste assez d’acidité pour supporter le tout, très bien et fait changement de boire du Bordeaux blanc. 90-91
Sauvignon nose, floral, pineapple, yellow fruit, just enough acidity to support the richness, nice.
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3/27/2023 - englishman's claret wrote:
Served without enough air and too cold, but showing nicely (and similarly to prior) nonetheless. I reiterate that this requires a few hours of air to show its best. Cellar temperature rather than ice bucket temperature works best.
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3/26/2023 - UFGators wrote:
Rating stands but I want to note that this may be one of the most quentessiantial examples of dry bordeaux blanc. Yes 2015 a riper year but this wine keeps getting better and better with time. Has enough acidity and structure to stand up to medium spice Indian food. This wine will improve for 10 years or so and will last even longer.
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3/18/2023 - DanielAVTL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Domaine de Chevalier has always been (in my mind) the ultimate expression of white BDX, and so expectations are always high. Glad to say the 2015 did not disappoint.
Served at 10 degrees (c) with sea bass in beurre blanc and sage, the nose was stunningly floral and zingy right off the bat. As the wine warmed to around 12 degrees, the flavors opened up beautifully, displaying a range of citrusy notes, honey, peach and lavender. Gorgeous and ever evolving, with lovely texture and depth.
Another peak expression of this magnificent white, in a perfect spot right now - but from my experience with Domaine de Chevalier, this will continue to evolve beautifully for another decade at least.
92 points on the night.
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 93 Points
Pale lemon.
Pronounced on the nose with gooseberry, apple, pear, blossom, honey, hay.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. Lovely long finish.
*** Tasted as part of a walkaround Bordeaux tasting. Not full notes ***
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10/22/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
Académie des Cinquante 66th Annual Dinner (Zwanenbroedershuis, Den Bosch, NL): Clearly a top vintage for Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, intense, elegant, ripe fruit (grapefruit, pear and apple), attractive vegetal notes, seamless and silky, wonderfully integrated oak, peach and citrus, superb resonance and length.
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9/10/2022 - wmccone54 wrote: 94 Points
Although I’m not a huge fan of dry Bordeaux Blancs, this is truly exceptional: clear medium lemon color with specks of gold throughout; medium body; lots of fruit and floral intensity with white flowers, citrus blossom, clusters of grapefruit rind, lime zest, tart gooseberry, white peach, and green apple; developing complexity reflecting oak spice, cat urine, ashy and chalky minerals, salty stone, and deep herbal tones; displays wonderful balance of fruit, acidity and oak, with a very long and persistent finish. The addition of the Semillon is quite noticeable and adds lots of complexity to the wine. By far one of the best Bordeaux Blancs I’ve enjoyed in quite some time. First of three bottles in my cellar; this should drink well for another 10-12+ years. Outstanding white wine.
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9/1/2022 - DH90 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vibrant young wine. Pale yellow color. Intense complex aromas ranging from lime peel to passion fruit.?with greater aeration some hints of crème brûlée and classic Sémillon. Nicely balanced although perhaps slightly deficient in acidity due to the ripeness of the vintage. Lovely wine right now.
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8/20/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
This bottle didn’t have enough air to really show its best (strangely enough the white needs more air than the red). Tight still, but developing beautifully. Cream and smoke, gravelly mineral, lemon curd and honeysuckle. 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Sémillon. 18 months in 35% new oak.
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4/3/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Note made on day 2, no decant, the wine under a well mannered cork and scored as 'Excellent' on the CT scale. Drunk out of ISO/Shiraz shape glass.
I understand this wine has minimal skin contact, is cold fermented and has a long time on lees, with regular stirring. It is fermented in oak (a proportion new) and undergoes no malolactic fermentation - bear this in mind given the relatively high natural acidity of Semillon, which makes up about 40% of the blend.
The colour is bright and leans towards white gold. The wine is obviously travelling well and still in its youth.
The nose is very redolent of Sauvignon Blanc during the first 12, or so, hours open. The element some describe as 'cat's piss' is certainly strong in those first 12 hours and never really goes away. I prefer to think this character is more herbaceous, with elements of geranium and thyme/oregano. One man's cat's piss is another man's flower? Something to think about, I guess.
As the wine grows into itself and the feline element subsides, lemon, a little vanilla oak and something like the smell of wet stones comes out to make this a pleasing wine, to me. The palate has some distinct minerality and the finish is long and quite intense. The structure is pleasingly flinty after an initial hint of creaminess. Finish is bone dry.
There is a lot to like here and I can't quibble with other tasters praise for the wine. I think it will age beautifully and in 10 years it might well be 'outstanding'. I am not convinced it represents value but that is a more subjective matter. Thoroughly enjoyable, unless you are a Sauvignon hater - and you are being marked for judgement later, if you are one.
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3/6/2022 - englishman's claret wrote:
Another excellent showing from this, showing a strongly tropical profile. This should reach its apogee perhaps in 3-5 years and it needs a lot (hours) of air to show its best.
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1/29/2022 - maaike2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Direct from bottle. Bright fruit, minerality, hint of spiciness, beautiful tension combined with round structure, good acidity. Many years to come.
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12/24/2021 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
I had this as the opening wine at a 1990s Cabernet night, and this was a huge hit with my wine group. Most of the group had it alongside raw oysters, while I had a shrimp and tomato salad. It complemented both perfectly. Notes on CT say it has the potential to improve with age, but this was my last bottle. Long finish and the notes of petrol that I picked up on a previous bottle were not there in this one.
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12/21/2021 - ElGreco Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bah, I pulled this one too early. Too much forward sauvignon blanc cat pee/passion fruit/grapefruit at this time. The kiss of vanilla oak isn't integrated as well as it can given some more age. Despite this, I did enjoy the honeyed lemony mineral finish and high acid of this one. Just lay it down for a little longer though.
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12/19/2021 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
From half bottle. Gooseberry, kaki fruit with a salty crust. Vegetal elements. A very nice combination of creamy texture and crisp acidty. A nicely herbal palate. ok length finish. A solid white Bordeaux.
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12/18/2021 - CellarBord Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine needs more time to develop depth. Wrong pairing with Salmon Tartar. The olive oil hid the acidity in the wine. Should have served with a cooked fish dish. I look forward to trying again in 3-5 years. Drink 2025-33.
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10/26/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Rich, opulent, luscious, and intense, the wine remains on the primary side. Concentrated, ripe, sweet, and packed with layers of fresh yellow citrus, orange rind, crushed rocks, and flowers, give it at least another 5 years to develop additional nuances.
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8/9/2021 - Caudalix Likes this wine: 93 Points
Robe jaune très pâle, pastel. Le nez est original et engageant. Je ne parviens pas à mettre un mot sur ce que je sens mais c’est très bon. Le vin s’ouvre avec peu d’aération et n’évoluera ensuite plus beaucoup. La bouche est excellente quoiqu’un petit peu contenue. Peut-être qu’un peu de temps l’améliorera encore. En tous les cas, je renoue avec plaisir avec ce vin suite à un 2007 bu il y a quelques années et qui était trop oxydé à mon goût.
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6/19/2021 - PT insurgent wrote:
Really improves with some air. Very young. At first it almost tastes sweet, which I think is the oak, but with air that fades and the wine shows nice notes of gooseberry, fresh cut grass, herbs, green mango.
Also the wine has the longest DIAM cork I have ever pulled.
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6/4/2021 - fingers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent now and I think with better days still ahead.
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3/21/2021 - UFGators Likes this wine: 94 Points
In an amazing place now with upside. Tropical flavors with white peach and lemon. Long finish. Evolves in the glass. This wine will last decades.
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11/27/2020 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious!
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11/12/2020 - paujokal Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking wonderfully with many more years still to go. Wonderful finish.
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10/25/2020 - SMHalps wrote: 92 Points
Very tasty wine. Seemed a little fuller bodied compared to the Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc that I had alongside it. I picked up some notes of petrol on the nose.
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8/11/2020 - maaike2 wrote: 94 Points
See my note 2 days ago. After 48 hours an impeccable wine, all irregularities are smoothened out and tastes alternate in the mouth with cinnamon (!?) on the forefront. Fantastic wine.
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8/9/2020 - maaike2 wrote: 92 Points
Overwhelming crispy freshness with fresh herbs and quite strong bitters giving high tension. Mouth-filling, long finish, bitters till the end. Beautiful, not an all-mens-friend.
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2/7/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really improves after an hour of air. Then fairly ripe flavors of peach and orange zest with good underlying acidity. Lovely round texture that’s slightly oily and quite smooth. The finish is smoky and tangy with notes of clove and honeyed minerals. A very good white Bordeaux that drinks well now but is probably a few years away from peak. 92+
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12/8/2019 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up nicely - will hold my other bottles for a year or three more.
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10/20/2019 - blacktruffle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Previous bottles for me were 95+, but this bottle falls short of that range. Great grassy nose accompanied by tropical notes. The palate is sweet and creamy, and lacks the energy of previous bottles. A little bitterness shows up at the end. This is still a fantastic wine, but it’s hard to justify buying more bottles based on this showing. Bottle variance or age?
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7/27/2019 - jviz Likes this wine: 94 Points
you can really taste the presence of the lees in this wine. It definitely adds complexity, as well as some hay, green apple, and (positive) cheese rind flavors. Maybe even a little minty herb. Lengthy due to the persistent acidity that hangs in the back of your cheeks long after the swallow.
I actually prefer this to the Smith Haut Lafitte of the same vintage for its better concentration and acidity.
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6/19/2019 - UFGators Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tropical in style. This drinks beautifully right now. Not as complex as Smith Lafitte blanc but more approachable. Drink now.
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5/17/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Zachy's Auction - May 2019 (Upper Story): Very fresh. This is a white wine that does a good job of cutting through all of the reds and standing up to them ok. It's got lime and just a hint of the green leaf note. Makes the wine come across as very bright. Drinking well right now despite the young age.
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12/9/2018 - daghaug Likes this wine:
Litt røkt kjøtt over smør, noe moden frukt, urter. Svært friskt anslag i munnen, flott mineralitet. Noe melon etterhvert i smaken før den går over i en deilig, syrlig utgang med litt saltpreg og kanskje noe klementin. Herlig vin allerede, helt sikkert mye å hente på lagring.
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11/17/2018 - G_H wrote: 91 Points
A Capella (Mirko’s Store): Hard candy, lemon, minerals, lemon peel, melon, quite fresh
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9/1/2018 - Andre Brattland wrote: 93 Points
70% Sauvignon blanc og 30% Sémillon.
Frisk og saftige hvite stenfrukter med en meget pen nerve. Strammer til og får et komplekst duftbilde med smørblomst og toffee. Middels anslag. Vokser godt og får en pen konsentrert og kremete stil. Virkelig frisk og med en bra nerve. Gule frukter, lime med et herlig trevirke. Vinen vil trenge tid i kjelleren for å finne den riktige balansen, men er verdt å vente på. 93 poeng. For nå.
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6/16/2018 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Green and white fruit on the nose, herbal, mixed with more generous yellow fruit element. On the palate very well balanced, rich but also really fresh and vibrant. Fine length, very elegant. 93-94+
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6/1/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 2015 in bottle (Zurich Arvi / Singapore UGCB): Very much in the grassy, SauvBlanc style. Fresh racey, lots of lime flavors.
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5/11/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
Heart's Delight Trade Tasting (Sofitel - Washington, DC): Wow, this is firing. Complex notes of lemon, pineapple, spiced nettle, white tea. Rich textural depth here, this is a big wine but maintains fresh acidity. Loaded with kumquat, lime, lychee, as well as notes of spiced white tea and honey. I'd love to taste this again in five years.
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5/11/2018 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fine, full body, ripe and excellent dry extract lending substance and density, although I would think that the 1994 precision is superior. Still, you cannot go wrong with this richer styled white from Domaine de Chevalier!
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3/12/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Clearly a contender for the top white Bordeaux wine, aside from you know who... The wine offers a crisp entry loaded with just squeezed lemon, pomelo, crushed rocks, lime and floral notes. Fresh and refreshing, concentrated and with racy acidity giving it lift, the honey and vanilla accents add just right amount of fatness to the wine. This is a beauty!
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3/7/2018 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very exotic. Pineapple and Papaya. Complex with good acidity. Still young, but with some air already fun. Glad I own a couple of cases.
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2/21/2018 - AWBryce wrote:
Excellent power and depth of flavour. Medium plus acid, stone fruits, long finish.
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2/6/2018 - FransS wrote: 93 Points
UGC Tasting Amsterdam 2/5/2018: Not as silky as the SHL; this one needs more time. At the moment the acidity is a bit hefty, there are more (but very good) bitters and tannins. The bouquet shows some mint.
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2/5/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting and Winemakers' Dinner (Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky / Café De Klepel): Tasting, brief note. Fruit and freshness, total harmony, perfect oak integration, nothing out of place, "ruht in sich". Effortless finesse. Grand Vin.
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1/29/2018 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Graves and Pessac Leognan from bottle: 2015 vintage (UGCB tastings in New York and Washington DC): An excellent white! Sure, not reaching the heights I think of the previous vintage, but there is excellent dry extract and structure for aging, even if the acidity is a bit lower than optimal. And this was a better showing than from barrel. The aromas presage opulence, with white pear and apricots aplenty combined with a seafaring saltiness that lends freshness. The palate includes some wet stone aspects that retain interest, even if there is a kind of broadness and a touch of headiness to the wine. Overall, an excellent white!
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1/25/2018 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 95 Points
UGC Bordeaux Tasting (2015 Vintage) (San Francisco): Domaine de Chevalier (blanc) - A lovely wine and above all other whites tasted this evening - except for the Smith-Haut-Laffite blanc. An ensemble of 70 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 30 percent Semillon. The DdC has a more typical profile dominated by grapefruit flavors on the nose and palate. Detected a lovely lime element and just touch of clove – the latter of which - I am not sure where it comes from. Maybe the barrels used or perhaps the Semillon varietal? Sometimes I detect a bit of forest flavors in this producer, but not this time. Still, very complex and is one of the best dry whites tried this evening.
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1/25/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Union Des Grand Crus de Bordeaux Tasting of the 2015 Vintage, nose of lovely fruit, touch of oak, grass, melon, lemon oil, and pineapple, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, needs four years to peak, has everything as usual including the price, and a medium/long finish.
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1/25/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 85 Points
UGC Bordeaux Tasting - 2015 Vintage (The Metreon, SF): Ripe nose, with papaya and slight orange cream soda (oak). Elevated alcohol 13.5%. Med plus acid. Thin finish.
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1/25/2018 - aagrawal wrote: 86 Points
UGC Bordeaux Tasting 2015 Vintage (City View, Metreon, San Francisco): Slight oak, complex, a bit closed, perhaps more underlying fruit than overt right now. 86
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1/25/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
Some Quick Takes from the 2015 UGC Bordeaux Tasting (Metreon, San Francisco): Less pungent than the Carbonnieux. Excellent citrus, chalk, and texture. Very long. Outstanding white Bordeaux.
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1/25/2018 - SWHighlander wrote:
Tasted at a large Pop n pour tasting through Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. Agree completely with CT taster Alexisonsmith. Very bright, acidic, high citrus / lemon, out of balance right now but may go on to be fantastic in a few years.
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1/20/2018 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 92 Points
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2015 (Montreal): Found this white still forming together. The balance was not quite where I would expect. This has potential to be a leader however for now it is no where close to being ready (3-5 years). High citrus, lemon pie, Sharpe finish. Will be interesting to re-visit this in 3+ years time
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1/20/2018 - Rabaja Likes this wine: 94 Points
2015 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting:
This has not yet hit its stride but has all the hallmarks of a truly great white. Very lifted aromatics of green apple, chalk, lemon and lime peel, with nuances of fresh thyme, lemongrass, and wet stone. The new oak is noticeable but doesn't distract from the fruit - all is in balance. Persistent finish. Right now drinking like a 91 unless you pay very close attention. Will be magnificent in three to four years.
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1/20/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: 95 Points
Union des Grands Crus Boston: As with the red, the white is a huge success for Domaine de Chevalier in 2015. A sublime and brilliant nose; great depth of fruit (70% Sauvignon blanc, 30% Semillon), lanolin, mineral, wild flowers. Perfect weight on the palate with very correct balance. Super finish.
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1/18/2018 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pale lemon in colour; medium nose of lemon and beeswax; pfn; high acidity and finish; full mouthfeel with a slightly cloying sensation
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10/11/2017 - Rjhorn4321 wrote: 95 Points
Decanter staff
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7/11/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
The perfect blend of crushed rocks, assorted, fresh squeezed, yellow citrus fruits, a dab of honey and floral notes. Bright, crisp and refreshing, this wine has the uncanny ability to offer pleasure young, yet, age for decades. I've had enough of these wines at old age lately to know first hand, how well they can age and improve for decades.
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5/21/2016 - wineforth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Barrel sample at lords. Huge pineapple nose. Very good length and aftertaste. Quite lean but will fill out.
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5/3/2016 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Feeling Pessac-Léognan pizzaz, appreciating dry extract #bdx15: whites and reds (Bordeaux, actually tasted during en primeur week): This blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon is one of the very best white Bordeaux, as it exudes structure and density, while counting among the "fresher" barrel samples in Bordeaux. More orange zest than grapefruit on the "citrus register" with cooler aspects as well on a long finish marked by lift. Excellent! 92-94+
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4/23/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Bright and lively with an open, grapefruit, lemon zest, green apple and honeysuckle character, this wine is fresh, refreshing and long with a crisp, sweet, citrus-filled finish.
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