Esprit de Chevalier (White)

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. L’Esprit de Chevalier is the second wine of the property.

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 competes 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 made up of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Semillon. Then, the vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, the maturing takes place in a new barrel cellar, the picking of the grapes is done at full maturity, etc.
For the dry white wine, the selection of the barrels one by one allows the elaboration of a rich, lively and complex second wine, with very pure and specific aromas, which can be appreciated very young. L’Esprit de Chevalier blanc is therefore a great white wine, with a fruity and racy character, but more open and therefore easier to appreciate when young.

Tasting

The color is crystalline, golden hue with green reflections. On the nose, it offers aromas of citrus fruits, white flowers and stony and smoky mineral notes. Then, in the mouth, the wine is marked by a superb freshness associated with great richness. Beyond the magnificent expression of the Sauvignon Blanc, one can perceive the unctuousness of the Semillon. Class and elegance are expressed in fullness in the finish.