2006 Domaine de Chevalier
By Chateau Domaine de Chevalier
2006 Domaine de Chevalier from Chateau Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux
The 2006 vintage in Bordeaux required a discerning eye to tease out its gems, amongst which the 2006 Domaine de Chevalier from Chateau Domaine de Chevalier unequivocally shines. As investors and collectors look to this somewhat challenging year, it's quintessential to spotlight those wines that exquisitely navigated the climatic whims – and this Pessac-Leognan estate’s offering is a paragon of skilled winegrowing and astute winemaking.
Mastering a Meticulous Vintage
The lead-up to the harvest in this particular terroir was marked by a patchwork quilt of weather conditions: a hot July followed by a damp August and an eventually saving dry September. This climatic oscillation called for perspicacious timing to ensure the grapes were plucked at peak ripeness. The 2006 Domaine de Chevalier showcases how, with sagacity and patience, a wine of finesse and structure emerges from under the poised hands of Chateau Domaine de Chevalier.
A Symphony of Savoir-Faire
Tasting the wine reveals a tapestry woven of persistent dark fruit notes, underscored by mature tannins that articulate the wine’s backbone without overshadowing its complex layering. Hints of cedar and tobacco proffer whispers of aged wisdom that is both commanding yet elegantly reserved. The balance achieved here speaks volumes of the winemaker’s savoir-faire when faced with yielding such character from an at first glance reticent vintage.
For the wine investor or enthusiast, there lies a triumphant duality in owning such a bottle: the provenance of Bordeaux’s prestigious Pessac-Leognan appellation alongside the tangible proof of a vintage transmuted into something timeless and intricately beautiful by Chateau Domaine de Chevalier.
Investment Merits Amidst Oenological Poise
As the 2006 Domaine de Chevalier continues its graceful evolution in the bottle, one can anticipate that its current plateau will extend for some years yet, promising ongoing delight for those who possess foresight in their cellars. This wine offers not just a taste experience but an insight into exemplary winemaking amid adversity - a testament to its investment allure and its capacity to thrive beyond expectation.
In sum, this vintage reminds us that remarkable wines are not born solely from perfect years but from perfect decisions. The 2006 Domaine de Chevalier from Chateau Domaine de Chevalier stands as evidence that even in less venerated years, Bordeaux’s brilliance flickers with unwavering intensity.
Market price (SGD)
$1,150.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
57.5
Scores and tasting notes
The brilliant St.-Emilion-based consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt, is working his magic at this great vineyard in Leognan. The 2006, a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, is a revelation of sweet, lush, black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with subtle notes of scorched earth and barbecue spices. Round, luscious, sexy, and exceptionally complex, the wine is dominated by that smoky minerality that comes from this area. It is the quintessentially elegant yet substantial Pessac-Leognan with class, complexity, and potential. Despite wanting to drink most of the bottle when I was tasting it, I know it will be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for two decades.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #181
Tasted blind at Southwold '06 Bordeaux tasting. Initially this Domaine de Chevalier seems a little muddled on the nose, the fruit rather taciturn. But it unfurls nicely with attractive aromas of crushed stone, pine, smoke and truffle developing with aeration. Understated entry, fleshy blackberry fruit interlaced with liquorice and bilberry that leads to a modern, oaky, succulent finish that demonstrates good depth and persistency. Tasted January 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2010