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2008 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan Product Zoom

2008 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

SKU #1071792 94 points Wine Enthusiast

Dense, powerful wine that impresses both with its rich fruit and its balanced tannins. The whole wine is finely integrated, black berry flavors shot through with acidity and touches of wood. Certainly a wine for aging. (4/ 2011)

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

One of the fabulous sleepers of the vintage and a wine for serious Bordeaux afficionados to consider buying, the 2008 is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol. Surprisingly backward for a 2008, it is medium to full-bodied with moderate tannins, lots of purity and abundant charcoal, black currant and floral notes. The sweetness of the fruit, depth of flavor and textured, lush mouthfeel in this medium to full-bodied, ageworthy 2008 are impressive. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. I would not be surprised if it turns out to be as impressive as the 2010. (5/ 2011)

92 points James Suckling

I really enjoy this rich and round wine, with subtle plum, tobacco and game aromas and flavors. Full and softly textured with lots of fruit and a caressing finish. Velvety tannins. So much chocolate too. Best after 2012. (12/ 2010)

92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Good full medium ruby. Sexy, very pure aromas of crushed blueberry, minerals and licorice lifted by a violet topnote. Dense, ripe and seamless, with terrific energy and a light touch to the tightly coiled flavors of dark berries and graphite complemented by spicy oak. This savory, dry, classic wine has the structure to ensure two decades or more of development in bottle. Finishes with real verve and grip. (8/ 2011)

91 points Wine Spectator

Lilac, tar and cassis bush aromas are followed by a broad swath of mulled plum, black currant and maduro tobacco. The strong, mineral- and tar-filled spine drives through the finish, which picks up a smoldering edge. Drink now through 2018. (4/ 2011)

K&L Notes

This wine is so good it's scary. Perfectly balanced and packed with flavor and round tannins. Some toasty nuances and plenty of minerals. One of the best 2008 Bordeaux. (Clyde Beffa, K&L Bordeaux buyer)

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Price: $59.99
WE 94 RP 93 JS 92
ST 92 WS 91

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By: David Driscoll |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 10/10/2012  | Send Email
The 2008 vintage is perhaps the sneakiest one of the decade for Bordeaux. In a market looking for powerful, fruit-driven wines to drink now, the 2008 vintage provided wines of nuance, subtlety and grace. I loved this vintage when I tasted it at the UGC event a few years back. Some people, like our owner Clyde Beffa, thought this was one of the best wines of the vintage - PERIOD! Yet, it's only $60 and we've got a good amount of it still. Buy! Buy! Buy!

By: David Othenin-Girard |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 8/19/2012  | Send Email
Fabulous example of the finesse and structure that can be found in the 2008 vintage. Still very young, but showing its potential clearly. Dark cocoa, black pepper, black currants, blackberry on the nose. Finesse and structured palate that's lifted, but clearly needing cellar aging. Give this baby 5 years and it will be singing.

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Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.
Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them. Click for a list of bestselling items from all of France.
Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

- View our bestselling Bordeaux.
Specific Appellation:

Pessac-Leognan/Graves

- Graves is the large red and white wine region located to the southeast of the city of Bordeaux along the Garonne River. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the red wines from the area, while the whites are mixtures of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The most important area within the Graves is the village of Pessac-Leognan. Most of the great chateaux, including Haut Brion, a premier cru and the only wine outside of the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, are located in this small appellation. Graves derives its name from the rocky, stony terrain of the region. Many people believe that the stony soil radiates the day's heat at night and thus makes the grapes ripen earlier than the other regions in Bordeaux.