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Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Red 2020

Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Red 2020

€112,90
€112,90
Sale Sold out
Deep color, dark red, black in the middle, brilliant. Great nose, intense and distinctive. Flowery expression mainly on the fruit. Black cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry. Finely peppery and vanilla spices. Aromas of tannins and slightly peaty earth. On the palate impressive sensation of density, fleshy tannins and contained power. The flesh of the wine is fine, firm , freshly and fruity. The high-class tannins recall the earthy and peaty flavor of great vintages to keep. The fruit is everywhere, intensely. Power, balance, maturity, concentration, length, freshness, tension. Everything is there for a great vintage to keep.
  • Domaine de Chevalier
  • France
  • Bordeaux
  • 2020
  • Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot
  • Gravel on clay-gravel subsoil
  • 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 (stirring the lees with a stick).
  • 75cl
  • 14%
  • 16ºC - 18ºC
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The story

The owners of Domaine de Chevalier, the Bernard family, have a long history dating all the way back to 1155! Documents are available stating that the Count of Angoulême awarded the Bordeaux wine property to Chateau-Bernard for his for his valour in battle against the English.

Domaine de Chevalier in the Graves/Pessac Leognan, appellation, was purchased in 1865 by Arnaud Ricard and his son Jean the Bernard family for 33,000 francs. At the time, the Ricards family were familiar with the Bordeaux wine trade as they worked as coopers, producing some of the best barrels used by many of the best chateaus. In 1865, the estate began selling their wine under the Gascon name of “Chivaley”. In those days, the 44-hectare property was used for mostly food crops and breeding animals. While there was a tiny Bordeaux wine making operation at the estate, it was not the main interest of the property.
Shortly after the elder Ricard passed away, the son discovered the outstanding potential of the terroir and soil at Domaine de Chevalier and transformed it into a full-time vineyard. The name was changed from “Chivaley” to the French “Chevalier”.

When Jean Ricard died, his son-in-law, Gabriel Beaumartin, took over and managed Domaine de Chevalier for the next 4 decades. At various times the Ricard family-owned other top estates in the Graves appellation including Chateau Malartic Lagraviere and Chateau de Fieuzal.

When Gabriel Beaumartin died in 1940, no one was interested in managing the estate. After a few years, Claude Ricard, Jean’s son, started at Domaine de Chevalier in 1948. He was only 21 years old. Under Claude Ricard, Domaine de Chevalier was included in the 1959 Graves Classification.

In 1983, the château was acquired by the Bernard family, leaders in the French eaux-de-vie market and major merchants of fine Bordeaux wines. Since then it has been run by Olivier Bernard, who perpetuates the spirit of balance and the quest for perfection of this cru d'excellence.

The vineyards
Protected by its vast wooded backdrop, untouched by any outside influence, the vineyard benefits from a microclimate and biodiversity providing benefits that combine to create a high-quality ecosystem.

The extension of organic and biodynamic farming to all vineyards managed by Domaine de Chevalier, since 2021, is a decisive step on the path that has been followed since 2010. This fundamental change represents unstoppable progress towards the organic certification of all their production from 2023.

Source: Domaine de Chevalier website