Domaine de Chevalier (Red)

History

The history of the Domaine de Chevalier goes back to the archives of the XVIIth century which recall that the small estate of Chivaley (knight in Gascony) includes “houses, outbuildings, gardens, land, vines, woods and meadows” and thus represents a farm in which the vine cohabited with breeding and food crops. The name of the Domaine de Chevalier would be linked, without knowing exactly why, to the presence of the very old Way of Saint Jacques de Compostelle which still borders the property.
In 1983, Olivier Bernard took over the running of the estate, and he still manages this family property with passion today. The message was clear. It was a question of continuing the work undertaken one hundred and twenty years earlier and to inscribe in the long term a patrimonial and qualitative approach, of a product full of history, rich in a unique image.
The property produces red, white and rosé wines.

Terroir & Vinification

The Domaine de Chevalier is a clearing in the middle of the forest that protects it, a sort of secret garden away from the media circuits. This is a bit of a paradox for this cru of excellence, which rivals with the greatest vintages of Bordeaux.
However, one could think of Chevalier’s terroir as difficult, capricious…
But it is exceptional and capable of producing a remarkably early harvest, provided that we take care to treat it with the respect it deserves. We can say that a great wine is always born in extreme conditions, on a difficult terroir, and even, paradoxically, that it is from this difficult character that it derives its greatness.

In reality, a great terroir gives a great wine where nothing else grows but the vine.
Indeed, this prestigious terroir is of great complexity and aromatic finesse capable of sublimating the grape varieties to obtain their quintessence. But this requires a total respect for the soil and the plant, orchestrated by Man, who is the revealer. The white vineyard is thus composed of 70 % Sauvignon &  30% Sémillon.

In addition, Stéphane Derenoncourt accompanies the winemaking process as a consultant oenologist. This is done in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, then the wine is matured in a new barrel cellar for 14 to 26 months, with 40 to 60% new barrels.

Tasting

At the tasting, the Domaine de Chevalier offers a dark red robe. First of all, the nose is very fresh, charming and attractive. Then, on the palate, the attack is silky, greedy and gives way to an exquisite fruity flesh coating a very dense structure but without aggressiveness. The wine is of exceptional finesse.

Their Team

• Owners : Famille BERNARD
• Director : Olivier BERNARD
• Co-Director : Rémy EDANGE
• Commercial Director : Olivier et Adrien BERNARD
• Technical Director : Thomas STONESTREET accompagné de Hugo BERNARD et Thomas MEILHAN
• Oenologist : Stéphane DERENONCOURT