Chateau Domaine de Chevalier   Domaine de Chevalier

2002 Domaine de Chevalier

By Chateau Domaine de Chevalier

2002 Domaine de Chevalier from Chateau Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

The 2002 vintage in Bordeaux was a testament to the resilience and finesse of great winemakers. The season challenged vintners with climatic whimsy, where perseverance and precision were required to craft wines of distinction. Against this backdrop, the 2002 Domaine de Chevalier from Chateau Domaine de Chevalier shines as a beacon of what Pessac-Leognan can achieve in less celebrated years.

 

A Vintage of Dedication and Grace

While 2002 often hides in the shadows of the illustrious 2000 and 2001 vintages, there is a quiet confidence in the wines that emerged from this year, particularly those born from estates with unyielding standards such as Chateau Domaine de Chevalier. The 2002 Domaine de Chevalier eloquently speaks of a vintage that demanded rigorous grape selection and astute winemaking vigilance - and it is a testament to both.

 

Investment-Worthy Qualities

Wine collectors and investors alike will appreciate how this particular vintage marvellously encapsulates the essence of its origin. It refracts the cooler year through its vibrantly fresh acidity and elegant structure. Its maturation trajectory has rewarded patience, revealing layers of complexity with notes of truffle, earth, and mature dark fruit weaving through its character without forgoing the classical gravelly undertones typical of Pessac-Leognan terroir.

The composition of fruit—a careful melange of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with subtle splashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot—imbues the 2002 Domaine de Chevalier with a graceful tenacity. Balance is key; well-integrated tannins facilitate an unctuous yet refined mouthfeel that underlines its nobility as one of Bordeaux's visionaries.

Patience has never been so rewardingly justified as with this vintage, making it a singularly prudent addition for connoisseurs seeking depth in their collections or for astute investors eyeing a wine with established longevity and appreciating value.

 

Summary

The journey of appreciation for the 2002 Domaine de Chevalier resembles Bordeaux's own path through this challenging year - one that optimises grace under pressure. It stands out as an exemplar of latent excellence, having matured into a wine offering both complex sensory pleasure and respectable investment potential. One savoured sip evokes images of Pessac-Leognan's timeless vineyards, where tireless human endeavour coalesces seamlessly with nature's caprice to create something truly remarkable.

Market price (HKD)

HK$4,950.00

12x75cl

Highest score

88

POP score

65

Scores and tasting notes

88

This is a delicate, lighter-styled effort revealing ethereal aromas of smoked herbs, red currants, cherries, and loamy soil. Medium-bodied, pleasant, but somewhat superficial, this is a vintage of diminished value to drink now and over the next 8-10 years.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #158

88

Tasted blind at Farr's 2002 Bordeaux tasting. There is a still some prominent new oak on the nose, which does not reconcile with previous encounters, this one showing a little oxidation. Ripe entry on the palate, chewy tannins, herbaceous leafy element inflecting the slightly disjointed finish. Not bad, but it would benefit from more focus and refinement. Tasted October 2009.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2010

Vintage performance