Winemaker Notes
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
The fineness of Chevalier's tannin is matched by the nobility of the fruit, a cabernet that rides high across the palate, then lasts as a deep chord of flavor. The integration of the tannin and firm, currantlike fruit creates the wine's beauty for now, compelling for its balance of freshness and concentration. Sleek and dry as the stones in which it grows, this has lasting fruit richness for a long life ahead.
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Wine Enthusiast
This property, run so expertly by Olivier Bernard, is now making reds that almost equal its legendary whites. This 2004 is intensely solid, dominated by black berry fruits, by spice, some smokiness aromas. It is finely balanced, smooth, with wood and tannins well integrated.
Editors' Choice -
Decanter
The colour remains deep from centre to the rim of the glass, we are in rich stately purple, touches of black chocolate on the attack, some lovely gathering together of the tannins over the palate, although they are hard-edged as many 2004s are, even at 14 years old. Certainly got lots of ageing ahead of it, and has a curl of cigar and slate through the palate, nice upwards motion to the acidity.
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James Suckling
A round and silky red now with dark chocolate, stone and blackberry character. Full body, firm tannins and a juicy finish. Austere at the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Thankfully, this estate appears to have scaled down their use of new oak as the wood component is much more subtle than in previous vintages. The classic southern Graves version of elegance, the 2004 Domaine de Chevalier exhibits aromas of lead pencil shavings, sweet cherry and strawberry fruit, cedar, spice, and subtle smoke. Medium-bodied with outstanding purity, richness, and texture, this soft, round beauty is ideal for drinking over the next 15+ years.
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Wine Spectator
Aromas of blackberry and delicate tobacco, with just a hint of toasty oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing finish. This is all in finesse and length.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Recognized for its superior reds as well as whites, Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank claims classified growths for both—making it quite unique in comparison to its neighboring Médoc properties.
Pessac’s Chateau Haut-Brion, the only first growth located outside of the Médoc, is said to have been the first to conceptualize fine red wine in Bordeaux back in the late 1600s. The estate, along with its high-esteemed neighbors, La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pique-Caillou and Chateau Pape-Clément are today all but enveloped by the city of Bordeaux. The rest of the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are in clearings of heavily forested area or abutting dense suburbs.
Arid sand and gravel on top of clay and limestone make the area unique and conducive to growing Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc as well as the grapes in the usual Left Bank red recipe: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and miniscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
The best reds will show great force and finesse with inky blue and black fruit, mushroom, forest, tobacco, iodine and a smooth and intriguing texture.
Its best whites show complexity, longevity and no lack of exotic twists on citrus, tropical and stone fruit with pronounced floral and spice characteristics.