Domaine de ChevalierDomaine de Chevalier Rouge OWC3 2022

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Domaine De Chevalier is beautiful, with a 2009-like style in its spicy red and black fruits, tobacco, new leather, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Chevalier that has a supple, layered mouthfeel, beautifully polished tannins, and just about flawless balance. It's not massive or over the top in any way and excels on its balance and complexity. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, drink this seamless, sexy, already approachable 2022 over the coming 30-40 years.

This is extremely long and polished with beautiful silky tannins that keep rolling down the palate. Medium-bodied, it shows currants, blackberries, minerals and crushed stones. Crunchy. Such finesse and structure at the same time. An honest and transparent wine with greatness. Drink after 2029.

Medium to full intensity, clear depth of colour as is typical in the vintage, but with lovely soft ruby nuances throughout, this is still young, more folded in on itself than many wines in 2022, has character and finesse, and ability to age, one to recommend. Maintains estate signature, and is packed with sage and clove spices, touches of incense, toast, olive paste and crayon. 40hl/h yield, 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard.

The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier is fabulous. I expected to see a more boisterous wine in this vintage, but instead, Domaine de Chevalier is a bit strict and tightly wound. I suspect those qualities will serve it well over the coming decades. Punchy red fruit, blood orange, new leather and spice all race out of the glass. I especially admire the wine's energy and tension. Tasted three times.
- By Antonio Galloni on January 2025

Commemorating his 40th harvest at the helm of the estate, Olivier Bernard has crafted a wine of abundant promise. Evoking aromas of dark wild berries, spices, smoke and licorice, framed by a deft touch of new oak, the 2022 Domaine de Chevalier possesses a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and rich palate, with an elegant, fleshy core of fruit, abundant powdery tannins and a long, delicate and dark berry-inflected finish. Noticeably less toasty and spicy than in the previous year, this estate has positively evolved in style. Matured for 18 months in a combination of new (35%) and used barrels, the 2022 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Published: Mar 06, 2025

The grand vin from the Bernard family is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage was in 35% new oak barrels, although there is also a growing percentage of oak foudre s in use here. A finely poised nose, exuding dark fruit in a classy style, blackcurrant, blackberry and liquorice wrapped up with notes of tar, rose petals, white peach and vanilla flowers, infused with a little toasted richness from the oak. The palate holds together very well, showing a restrained texture, controlled by the midpalate’s structure, with fine tannins all beautifully knit together, and a fresh acidity which gives it a real sense of lift. Plenty of primary grip and dark primary flavours here, but real harmony and integration, and it is long too, with fabulously ripe tannins. This will need plenty of time to come good but it will be very fine when it gets there. Tasted three times. The alcohol on the label is 14%.