Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc 2005

vinous96

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2005 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is fabulous. That’s the good news. The not so good news, if we can call it that, is that is still very young! That won’t surprise readers who are familiar with the Blanc, which happens to be one of the greatest whites made anywhere in the world. The warm, dry vintage has given the 2005 a good deal of body and richness, with pretty tropical accents that lend a real sense of exoticism. Readers lucky enough to own the 2005 will want to cellar it for a few years, as it is in adolescent stage where it is not young, but also not mature. All I can say is: What a wine!

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(85% sauvignon and 15% semillon) Bright, pale yellow. Musky aromas of mirabelle, lemon, coconut, flint and resin. Large-scaled, rich and dry, with a sappy quality and lovely aromatic perfume to the flavors of pineapple, lemon and minerals. Boasts terrific viscosity for DDC blanc but is rather closed today. In contrast to the 2006, this rather massive wine is showing its semillon side. The long finish stains the palate with flavors of citrus fruit, minerals, flowers and coconutty oak. This is actually lower in alcohol than the 2006 (13.3%, vs. 13.5%) and considerably lower in acidity at 4.2 grams.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(80% sauvignon blanc and 20% semillon) Exotic aromas of mirabelle, honey, smoke, flint, vanilla and hazelnut. Superripe and rich, with hints of orange, lemon drop, lanolin and honey lifted by a floral element. A rather powerful style, with elevated alcohol contributing to the impression of sweetness. After the rain on August 30, the grapes lost some of their sugar but they gained in acidity, noted manager Remi Edange.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

2005 is an excellent vintage possessing high acidity as well as impressive levels of weight, richness, and texture.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

This is a great white Graves. A lovely nose, not complex but beautifully defined with almond, peach, passion fruit and orange-blossom, more floral than at the Southwold tasting. The palate is weight in the mouth, powerful with fine tannins, stone fruit and nectarine towards the taut finish that suggests this wine has a long, long way to go. Excellent. Drink 2013-2020+ Tasted November 2009.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Quite muted on the nose. Faint grassy, apple aromas. A little more minerally than Carbonneiux. Very good concentration on the palate. Minerally, quite petrolly compared to others. Moderate acidity with an attractive almost Riesling-like finish. Excellent. Tasted April 2006.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Another excellent vintage for Bordeaux's dry whites, which tend to be vastly underrated and exceptionally long-lived (30-40 years in some cases). The 2005s possess crisp acidity as well as serious weight, richness, and texture. Space constraints did not allow full tasting notes, but this is one of the top 2005 dry white Bordeaux wines.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Domaine de Chevalier’s fabulous 2005 white offers terrific acidity, body, and texture as well as high acidity, which suggests this wine should enjoy an incredibly long life. I recently had the 1985 at a charity dinner, and it is still remarkably youthful. The 2005 may last just as long, if not longer. Hints of figs, licorice, honeysuckle, and lemon oil are accompanied by a concentrated, dry, nearly austere wine, but there is so much going on, that it should be prodigious with another decade of cellaring. It will last for 30-40+ years.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted single blind at Southwold. Compared to the others, this is rather simple on the nose, touches of passion fruit, smoke and a little wet wool. The palate is medium-bodied, nice acidity, touches of orange peel, apricot and a little honeysuckle. Nice length although it does not really fan out as I would like. Still a classy number though despite everything. Drink 2012-2025. Tasted January 2009.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at the chateau. a little pineapple and lychee. Good definition and retaining that almost Riesling like bouquet. The palate has a firm entry, good acidity, still achingly youthful but with a fine, slightly waxy texture towards the primal, pineapple tinged finish. Good length. Very fine. Drink 2013-2025. Tasted September 2008.