A disturbing pattern appears to be emerging with recent offerings from this chateau. After bottling, the wines are fruitless, ferociously tannic, and completely out of balance. Even the white Domaine de Chevalier seems to be missing the great intensity of flavor and ripeness that one expects from this renowned estate in Pessac-Leognan. A shockingly high oak component obliterates any attempt at discerning the level of fruit that might be present. Yes, the wine is backward, yes, it is light-bodied, yes, the wine hints at having some minerality, but where's the weight, ripeness, and fruit intensity? Given the number of marvelous Domaine de Chevaliers I have tasted as well as purchased over the years, I hope my tasting notes for the 1993-95 prove to be terribly inaccurate.

Offers more on the nose than the palate, yet it's delicious. Gorgeous aromas of berries and stones. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a berry and earth aftertaste. Best after 1999. -JS

A shockingly high oak component obliterates any attempt at discerning the level of fruit that might be present. Yes, the wine is backward. Yes, it is light-bodied. Yes, the wine hints at having some minerality, but where's the weight, ripeness, and fruit intensity? Last tasted 11/97