Domaine de Chevalier - Pessac-Leognan 2020

The magnificent Domaine de Chevalier is at the top of Bordeaux's greatest Crus Classes. Like a secret garden, this emblematic vintage of the Pessac-Leognan appellation is located in a green setting south of Bordeaux. The elements of domain, terroir, and vineyard are inextricably linked to forge the identity of Domaine de Chevalier.

The Domaine de Chevalier has been owned by the Bernard family since 1983. It watches over a rare vineyard of 45 hectares with 40 hectares of red vines and 5 hectares of white vines. Olivier Bernard, the estate’s manager, reminds us "Only a great terroir can produce a great wine". In a mosaic of terroirs, Domaine de Chevalier's vineyard grows in black sand and fine white gravel that rests on a perfectly drained clay-gravel subsoil. With a philosophy centered on revealing the most beautiful expression of this exceptional terroir, Cabernet Sauvignon (63%) dominates the estate’s vines with Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Cabernet Franc (2%) making up the remaining vines. Bordeaux's emblematic white grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc, represents 70% of the area dedicated to white vines. The other 30% is dedicated to Semillon.

Great attention is paid to every step in the vineyard and in the winery from extremely precise plot classification to masterful vinification techniques. The wines from Domain de Chevalier continue to be the most beautiful benchmarks in the region of Bordeaux year after year.

Hand-picked, into small crates. Grapes are carefully sorted in the vineyard , then manual sorting on bunches in the cellar and optical sorting of berries after destemming. Four vat-rooms, (steel, stainless steel, tulip concrete and wooden vats), to optimize the plot selection, perfect the extraction and refining the “assemblage”. Barrel aging 16 to 20 months (35% new oak), bâtonnage 4 months.

“The purity of fruit is really something here, with blackcurrants and blackberries, together with orange, stone and granite character. Mind-boggling in many ways. Full-bodied with very fine tannins that are polished and pure. Such a fine texture. Lots of primary fruit. Like picking wonderfully ripe grapes. Great length. One for the cellar.” - 99 Points, James Suckling

“From an estate that’s been on fire over the past decade, the 2020 Domaine De Chevalier is another brilliant wine in the making and checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Offering impressive cassis and darker berry fruits, it has complex notes of crushed flowers, violets, and damp earth-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins and a silky, layered, seamless texture, it shines for both its richness and its balance. It also shuts down quite quickly, so if you’re going to drink bottles, try one in its youth. Otherwise, be sure to give bottles 7-8 years in a cold cellar. It should have 30-40 years of overall longevity.” - 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

“Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier comes skipping out of the glass with energetic scents of ripe red and black currants, fresh blackberries and boysenberries, plus nuances of wild sage, cloves and cedar with a waft of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate surprises and delights with an unexpected richness and depth that remains locked away on the nose, revealing layers of fragrant earth and floral notions framed by fantastic freshness and firm, finely grained tannins, finishing with the most gorgeous, long-lingering perfume.” - 97 Points, Wine Advocate

Producer: Domaine de Chevalier

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc

Appellation: Pessac-Léognan

Vintage: 2020

Size: 750ml