Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux France 2019 (13.5% ABV) — 94.5
AJ | Dark, dense, opaque black-red to a purple meniscus. Much less 'woodland' in style than the Esprit, this is ravishingly pure and fresh yet lean, sapid and fine-grained, too. Crushed pepper and mountain herbs; the memory of Grand Chartreuse. Exciting aromatic refinement from what is obviously a commanding Domaine de Chevalier. On the palate, the wine is intense, long, lifted, darting, aerial, astonishingly smooth and fine-grained yet somehow stealthily, amply textured too. Panther-like Pessac-Leognan! The panther of the woods. There's a huge amount to enjoy, the lean lyricism of fruit is remarkable, and this is right on the wine zeitgeist ('precision, focus and purity') as well as being a commanding yet also a lovely 2019.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2040. 95
MS | Dense, lightly gravelly, fairly closed, but sweetly fragrant, and persistent, all the same, impressive to smell; rich medium weight, fresh, finely textured in tannin, a restrained Pessac Léognan balance; sweetly, freshly ripe to taste, long, even, restrained across the palate, beautifully sustained in flavour, subtle, gently aromatic, complex and most satisfying, without any excess in this hot year, and with lovely fruit and aroma persistence to finish. A most complete red Dom. Chev. Leave ten years minimum, splendour assured in due course. Drink Dates: 2035 - 2055+. 94