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WTN: 2002 Domain de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan

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Brian K Miller

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WTN: 2002 Domain de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan

by Brian K Miller » Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:59 am

I know this was probably too young, but I have had really good luck with adolescent/young Graves reds...and this was purchased off the shelf at Corti Brothers, so probably not perfect storage...and, anyway, it may be too young but it was delicious right now!

I am developing a real love for Graves wines, there is just something "warm" about their character. I know that makes no sense to use the term "warm" and I am not talking about alcoholic heat but just a "warm" flavor and texture that makes me smile. Huge nose of plum, cassis, anise, and smoke. Not jammy or overbearing, but the wine could perhaps use a jolt of more acidity, but the flavors follow the palate, with plenty of very dry, not sweet in the slightest plum and cassis fruit, earth, leather, graphite?, soy?, tobacco, cedar. Fantastic wine. Not cheap, but about what one would pay for too many Napa Valley artisan cabs that taste of nothing but plum juice and alcohol. I also thought the wine was silky smooth, despite the very present tannins...loved the mouthfeel. I am very tannin-tolerant, though, so your mileage might vary.

A/A- Nice!
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Paul Savage

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Re: WTN: 2002 Domain de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan

by Paul Savage » Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:33 pm

Sounds excellent! Thanks for the note. I haven't had any recent vintages from them.
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Noel Ermitano

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Re: WTN: 2002 Domain de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan

by Noel Ermitano » Wed Apr 28, 2010 2:59 pm

Definitely impressive considering the vintage. I had (and posted on this) around 6 months ago and our notes do not seem to be far from each other:

Image

2002 Château Domaine de Chevalier - Bernie's bottle, not a petit château, but a low-key yet, to my mind, excellent Pessac-Léognan producer in the classic style, their '96 vintage of which I have enjoyed many bottles of (the one I entered in an IWFS Blind Tasting of vintage '96 won 1st place). Though '02 is generally a cooly-regarded vintage, especially for those obsessed with sweeping vintage pronouncements of professional reviewers, this wine is, to me, very good in itself.

Typical Domaine de Chevalier, expressive of terroir in its over-medium body and dried herb infused (notably rosemary) in its gravelly, "tar" touched, cassis, cherry, cedar and violets. Not as refined as the much more mature '96, but time will likely make it come together (the rosemary and wood jut out a little bit) and smoothen out even more in a few years. Definite typicity in this. Good show. Even in an off-vintage, Domaine de Chevalier undoubtedly delivered.
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Brian K Miller

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Re: WTN: 2002 Domain de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan

by Brian K Miller » Thu Apr 29, 2010 11:30 am

Cool, Noel.

I really love the Graves! I have a cheapie K&L direct import I picked up after meeting the charming Irish owner/winemaker at the shop that I want to try next. Chateau L'Avocat.
...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach

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