Wine Critic
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2025 (Pessac‑Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, Futures) is a structured yet elegant Cabernet‑dominant red with refined fruit, fresh acidity and serious aging potential in this warm, early vintage.
Critic tasting note: (2025 vintage)
"The depth of fruit comes through clearly, with a medium body and plenty of berry, chocolate, walnut and bark aromas. Creamy and polished, with a lovely texture and a long and rather endless finish. Soft and precise. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot." - James Suckling (97-98/100)
"Mesquite wood, black cherries, cigar box, blue fruits, espresso, and spice fill the aromatics. There is freshness, purity, and elegance here that is impossible to ignore. On the palate, the fruit is clean, with a smoky edge, a hint of spice, and a vibrancy that adds to the length and precision. Give it just a few years in the bottle, and this promises to be a beauty. According to Olivier Bernard, the key to the vintage was the warm, dry summer, followed by the refreshing September rains. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.12.5% ABV, pH 3.71. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. Harvest took place September 11-September 26. This is the earliest finish to a harvest in the history of Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2029-2060." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (97/100)
"Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate hints of cloves and cardamom, dark berry confit, ripe cherries, black cherries, touch of precious wood. Full-bodied, blackberries, ripe tannins, good freshness, lingers for a long time, harmonious, a sure promise for the future." - Falstaff (95/100)
What is the blend and structure?
-
Grape varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot (no Cabernet Franc in the final blend reported so far).
-
Color: Deep, intense ruby with dark core (barrel sample descriptions).
-
Classification: Grand Cru Classé de Graves (red), Pessac‑Léognan AOC.
How does the 2025 vintage show in this wine?
-
Vintage profile: 2025 in Pessac‑Léognan is warm, dry and early, but with enough late‑season rain to preserve balance and aromatic freshness.
-
Estate context: The 60‑ha vineyard sits on deep gravel over clay‑gravel subsoils; red varieties cover about 55–60 ha with an average vine age around 25–26 years, farmed with HVE3 “protection raisonnée”.
-
Style expectation: Classic, slightly more linear and mineral than 2022–2023, with bright fruit and fine tannins rather than sheer power.
How does Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2025 taste (barrel sample)?
-
Aromas: Refined, intense bouquet of wild strawberry, blackberry, blackcurrant and small red fruits, with fresh humus, fine spice, pepper and subtle cedar/woody Cabernet notes.
-
Palate: Medium‑ to full‑bodied, very well balanced; fresh attack of juicy red and black berries, fine spice, cool earth and graphite over a smooth, silky texture.
-
Finish: Long, elegant, and classically styled, with ripe but firm tannins and excellent freshness, flagged as “a wine of great class and distinction, with excellent aging potential.”
How is it aged and when will it be ready?
-
Élevage: 16–18 months in French oak barrels, around 35–50% new wood for the Grand Vin (estate norm, confirmed for 2025 by merchants).
-
Aging potential: Framed as a wine to cellar; early notes suggest a window from roughly 2030–2045, with earlier drinking possible after a long decant once bottled and delivered (expected 2028 for futures).
