Domaine De Chevalier

Domaine de Chevalier is a Bordeaux wine estate that produces red wines: the vineyard covers 55 hectares for reds with mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For white wines, Domaine de Chevalier has only 6 hectares of Sémillon and Sauvignon vineyards.

Domaine de Chevalier is a renowned estate, it is one of the Grands Crus Classés of Graves. Recognized as such because classified in white and red in the elite of the Graves and Pessac-Léognan crus, the appellation that bears them.

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The history of Domaine de Chevalier

 

In the 17th century the estate was known as the Domaine de Chivaley (chevalier in Gascon) and only had a few vines at the time. It was during the 19th century that the estate really took off thanks to the Ricard family, who would reign over the estate for nearly 120 years. In 1865, Arnaud Ricard bought the estate and is today considered the founder of the vineyard. In 1900, his son-in-law Gabriel Beaumartin succeeded him and in forty years, will truly establish the reputation of the estate‘s wines. Finally, it was Claude Ricard who ran the property from 1948 to 1983, thanks to him the estate was included in the classification of Grands Crus Classés de Graves during the 1953 classification.

 

In 1983, the Bernard family group specializing in the trading of Bordeaux eaux-de-vie and grands crus bought the Chevalier estate. Many investments are made whether in the vineyard or in the cellars. Today, Olivier Bernard is at the head of the estate, accompanied by Antoine Roulier as cellar master.

 
What are the characteristics of Domaine de Chevalier wines?
  

The total area of the vineyard is 61 hectares including 55 in red and 6 in white. The grape variety is composed for the red vineyard of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. For the white vineyard, it is made up of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Sémillon. The density of the vineyard has the particularity of being much higher than the average at 10,000 vines / hectare (the average for the appellation is 6,500).

The red wine aging process takes place entirely in barrels. For the great wine, the aging period in barrels varies from 14 to 24 months, with a proportion of 40 to 60% new wood, depending on the power of the vintage. Transfers from one barrel to another (rackings) are carried out using the "end" method, where the wine is transferred directly from barrel to barrel by gravity. Bottling takes place in June. For white wine, the wine aging process takes place on the lees, which become finer and finer until the end of the first summer. Then the wine spends a second winter in barrels, during which it clarifies naturally. Thus, when bottling in the spring, the wine requires only a very light filtration.

 

Here is how Olivier Bernard, owner of the domain himself describes his wine: "The red wine of Chevalier has a natural structure which is based on finesse, elegance, but also on great complexity and a marked aptitude for aging which does not does not exclude, in his youth, a certain flexibility. Always balanced, never aggressive, power is not his priority."

 

Regarding the white wines, he adds: “ The type of vinification that we carry out does not seek to put the fruit forward at all costs. The quality of the extraction, the duration of the passage in barrels, generate very complex wines, never heavy, of a beautiful freshness and a great aromatic persistence which, at the end of the mouth opens in peacock tail. We play on time, with a great wine for laying down ".

 
What are the other wines from Domaine de Chevalier?

 

Since 1986, the estate has been producing a second wine (in red and white) called "Spirit of Knight" made with the same know-how as the great wine from younger vines. The aging differs from the great wine: 12 months in 2-year-old barrels for the red.

 

The best vintages of the Domaine de Chevalier

 

The best vintages in red are as follows: Domaine de Chevalier 1953, Domaine de Chevalier 1955, Domaine de Chevalier 1959, Domaine de Chevalier 1962, Domaine de Chevalier 1975, Domaine de Chevalier 1985 or even Domaine de Chevalier 2005 and Domaine de Chevalier 2009.

 

Regarding the whites, we will retain the vintages: Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 1929, 1959, 1971, 1990, 2000 and 2001.

 

Food and wine pairings

 

Domaine de Chevalier in red goes very well with leg of lamb, red meat, game and hard cheeses.

 

Domaine de Chevalier en blanc is a marvelous accompaniment to shellfish and seafood, white meats and raw milk cheeses.

 

Domain website

www.domainedechevalier.com

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