Domaine de Chevalier 1997

Wonderfully aromatic, with beautiful plum and toasted oak character on the nose. Medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium, fruity finish. Drink now through 2002.

Chocolate, cacao and coffee powder. Fragrant and herbal red berry notes as well as soy, mushroom, truffle and cedar. Chewy, ripe but cool and fleshy in a great way - tannins fill the mouth giving structure and support to the floral and ripe raspberry and red cherry fruit. Acidity is well integrated, giving lift and bounce and this carries the juiciness through to a long finish. I like the minerality too, liquorice and flint. Soft markers with tobacco and dark chocolate giving the nuance on the end. A really nice glass of wine with lots of life, charm, energy, texture, weight and length.

Deep medium red. Evolving aromas of plum, tobacco, tar and animal fur. Supple, round and gamey in the mouth, with moderate concentration and density. Also slightly green on the end.

Colour: bright, medium ruby-garnet. On the nose, an open bouquet with pleasant toasty notes, finely jammy fruit with hints of cherry. On the palate, elegant, creamy, supple and silky, with a delicate candy note on the finish and a beautiful, elegant length. Great fun to drink.

98: Quite deep purple. Powerful, expansive bouquet showing lovely fullness, a warm feel, and a note of fine oak. On the palate, velvety, with good substance, balanced astringency, concentrated extract, and a long finish. At last, an extraordinary Domaine de Chevalier again. 17/20 2004–2014 Medium ruby-garnet, bright. Open, pleasantly toasty bouquet, slightly jammy fruit with hints of cherry. On the palate, elegant, creamy, flowing with gentle silkiness, a delicate candy note on the finish, beautiful, elegant length. Very enjoyable.

Green, slender bouquet. Dry, bitter taste with sandy tannins. (17) 15/20

Bordeaux red color. Medium intensity. Nose of medium intensity. Smoky. Fruity. Ripe (no greenness in the 97s). Very pleasant on swirling. Cedar. Resin. A rounded, very charming wine, present on the mid-palate and then on the finish, with flavor, medium body, seductive character, and a slight liveliness at the end. It will be enjoyable without delay. Its showcasing will depend on how it is served. Preferably next summer.

Medium light ruby-colored, with sweet, smoky, herb-tinged, toasty, cherry, and berry flavors, this is an attractive, light to medium-bodied wine with soft tannin, low acidity, and little depth or finish. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.