A son tour, Neal MARTIN a publié ses commentaires et notes du Millésime 2010 dans le Wine Adovocate.
Il a dégusté le Domaine de Chevalier, ainsi que l'Esprit de Chevalier et le Château Lespault-Martillac.
2010
Domaine de Chevalier: 95
Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru and at the chateau. The Domaine de Chevalier
has a well-defined bouquet that demands coaxing from the glass. It is a shy
little thing, most likely due to bottling, but it unfurls in the glass to offer
intense dark cherry, bilberry, cedar and melted tar. It is extremely well
defined as if you could pick out the thread of each scent one by one. The
palate is medium-bodied with blackberry, tapenade and cedar. It is crisp and
nicely focused on the finish, compact and tensile, certainly a Domaine de
Chevalier that will require far more bottle age than the 2009. Excellent.
Tasted November 2012.
2010 Domaine de
Chevalier Blanc: 93
Tasted at the UGC and at the property, the Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has a
very refined bouquet with hints of lemon curd, apple blossom and a touch of
French patisserie. There is still a little oak to be integrated. The palate is
medium-bodied with very fine balance, perfectly pitched acidity and subtle
notes of apple blossom and white truffle. This is a very suave white Graves,
complex and cerebral with a long, slightly nutty/smoky finish. Tasted November
2012.
2010
Esprit de Chevalier: 88
Tasted at the estate, the Esprit de Chevalier has a bright, lively nose. Not
complex, but quite compact with dark cherry and bilberry, hints of crushed
violets emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. It
is a gawky adolescent at the moment, but there is a nice soft, perhaps slightly
attenuated finish that is fresh, with an herbaceous, bell pepper aftertaste.
Tasted November 2012.
2010
Esprit de Chevalier Blanc: 89
This was tasted at the estate. I must say, I really like this nose. It bounds
from the glass like a yapping puppy with crisp lime flower, apricot and
hazelnut notes that are fresh and defined. The palate is medium-bodied,
reticent on the entry, nice ‘n taut with hints of white chocolate and citrus
peel. It loses a little momentum towards the finish but it constitutes a very
attractive Pessac white. Tasted November 2012.
2010 Chateau Lespault-Martillac: 90
Tasted at Domaine de Chevalier. This has a little
gem of a nose: bright and lively with dark cherries and dark plums, hints of
lavender and pot pourri emerging with time. There is still a little vanillary
oak to be resolved but it is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied and
not quite as engaging as the aromatics, but that would be mean. It is nicely
balanced, supple and silky smooth with a joyful finish that curiously reminds
me of a Saint Emilion rather than Graves! Still, this is a highly enjoyable
wine from Olivier Bernard. Tasted November 2012.
2010 Chateau Lespault-Martillac Blanc: 89
Tasted at Domaine de Chevalier. The white
Lespault-Martillac has an attractive nose of white peach and limestone scents,
although it feels just a little muted at this moment. The palate is fresh with
sliced pear, green apple and a hint of passion fruit on the entry. The acidity
it crisp and taut with a fine, slightly abrupt finish. Tasted November 2012.
Commentaires