x
  • Country ranking ?

    976
  • Producer ranking ?

    17
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Grilled Turbot with grilled green asparagus

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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MINI-VERTICAL OF DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER'S RECENT FIVE WHITES

October 2nd, 2015

"Domaine de Chevalier, a jewel nestled deep in the pine trees of Bordeaux's Pessac-Léognan, has a long history of producing age-worthy reds and whites. Both show incredible depth of fruit and unique character from the stony soil of the vineyards that span across 45 hectares in Graves. 

Many of the reds from the 1950s and 1960s are still excellent now, and its recent vintages seem to hark back to the halcyon days of great winemaking from this estate. In fact, the past eight or nine years could be the best vintages ever from here, says James. Its humble red from the  2013 vintage reminds James of their wines from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s – vintages that could compete with the classic Graves such as Haut-Brion or La Mission Haut-Brion.

 

Its 2012 red, for instance, shows outstanding aging potential and its latest2014 vintage is already balanced and fine when James tasted it from barrel this year.

But what truly made this winery a world-class estate and a fixture on most wine aficionados’ and collectors’ list is invariably its whites. A blend of semilion and sauvignon blanc, the wines often fetch lofty prices at auctions along with top names such as Haut Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut Brion Blanc. And it ages incredibly well.

 

Its 2010 blanc is a near perfect wine that shows amazing density and character. One would imagine its 2011 vintage would be hard to compete with the previous year, especiall given the difficult growing season in Bordeaux, its 2011 blanc, however, turns out to be phenomenal quality and is one of the top Bordeaux 2014 releases rated by James. In fact, the success of the vintage for the wine illustrates how great 2011 is for dry white Bordeaux as James wrote earlier, calling it “a year to buy white wines from Bordeaux”. The wine is on pour at our Great Wines of the World event in Hong Kong on November 5 at Four Seasons Hotel. This is your chance to taste the pinnacle of Bordeaux white, get your ticket here

One thing that impresses James about the chateau's whites is their complexity that is often seen in reds, but rarely in whites. Its 2012 blanc reminds James of the complex character found in a Pessac-Léognan red, and its 2013 blanc has more weight than the reds made in 2013, says James. Its latest 2014 blanc is another stellar wine, dense and mascular with layers of fruit as James comments in the tasting note.

 

The Bernard family, who purchased the winery in 1983, have everything to do with the sucess of the chateau and with the stellar whites and reds vintage after vintage, they are one of the best winemakers in Bordeaux right now. Below are five whites from 2010 to 2014, ranked by score; click on the names for notes and scores. Natalie Wang, managing editor JamesSuckling.com"

 

Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2014 :  A solid and muscular Domaine de Chevalier with layers of fruit. Very dense, loads of flavor. Full body, bright acidity and a long, long finish. Tangy acidity. It lasts for minutes. 95-96 (March 27th, 2015)

Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2013 : This white is so dense and powerful, with a finish that lasts for minutes. Pear, lemon, grapefruit and loads of minerals. Has more weight than all the red wines made in 2013. Full body. Profound depth. I look forward to tasting this from bottle in a few years. 97-98 (April 4th, 2014)

Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2012 : This is very tender and pretty with very fine elements. Dried lemons, minerals and lilac as well as character of oyster shell and iodine. Full body, yet refined and long. You normally see this sort complex character in reds from Pessac-Leognan. Fascinating young white. 95 (November 14th, 2013)

Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2011 : Amazing nose of dried fruits from peaches to apples to mangos. Pink grapefruit too. Full and very powerful white with an incredible length and intensity. It's like a beautiful block of velvet in your mouth. It goes on for minutes. It becomes so mineraly and subtly fruity at the end. Turns just to honey. Wow 97-98 (April 1st, 2012)

Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2010 : A white with a phenomenal density and richness with creme brulee, apple pie and pear tart character. It's so agile and balanced. Full body, with tangy fruit and a long finish. Crazy intensity and style to this. Speechless. Best dry white from here. Try in 2018. 99  (November 14th, 2013)

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The Story

Olivier Bernard's extensive project at Domaine de Chevalier has really come to fruition. After a bold and not to mention expensive re-planting program throughout the `80s and then a decade and a half of patience for the vines to gain maturity, we can really see the benefits. 2005, 2008, 2009 and now 2010 rank amongst the very best wines produced in this sprawling commune. Powerful but graceful, true to their terroir, and just so enjoyable to drink; this has become one of our 'must buy' estates. Olivier's wines offer 'super second' class at relatively affordable prices.

 

Area of production: 5 ha

Average production: 18.000 bottles

Age of vines: ~35 years

 

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Wine Information

Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 70% & Sémillon 30%

Harvest: Hand-picked, into small crates. Grapes are picked in 3 to 5 waves for optimum ripeness. Traditional cold settling in barrels.

Vinification: Fermentation in barrels. Age in barrels for 18 months (35% new oak) with bâtonnage (stirring the lees with a stick)

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

A strikingly rich, complex wine, the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier is a spectacular blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon that achieved 13% natural alcohol. It offers lots of lemon oil, orange blossom, crushed rock and white flower-like characteristics. It is super-intense and medium to full-bodied with a level of concentration rarely seen. Nevertheless, the tart acids, freshness and beautiful winemaking have resulted in a stunningly balanced, pure wine. It has 30-50 years of longevity ahead of it, although most of it will be drunk during its first decade of life.

  • 94p

Pale gold bright color with green glints.
Explosive nose of citrus fragrances mixed of white peach and exotic fruit. Fresh and mineral aromas.
Outstanding tension and freshness on the palate with intense and amazing flavors.
This wine is built for aging and it will provide its complex and tasty flavors for a long time.
Drink 2018-2030.

Domaine de Chevalier 2013 94p Tasted three times - last time in April 2016. Consistent notes. Fine aromatic nose of apple and acacia, lush palate with excellent acidity, fine balance, smooth aftertaste. Great complexity and sophisticated touch. Great wine for the vintage.
  • 94p
Bright yellow with green hue. Wonderful nose with persistant character, complex fruit, tangerine and vanilla, fresh grapefruit, lemon peel, slightly toasted aroma in the background, perfectly balanced oak character with hints of honey in the background. On the palate well structured with convincing length, fine acidity, long lingerling fruit and excellent balance.
  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Bordeaux, Pessac Leognan

Other wines from this producer

Bordeaux Rosé de Chevalier

Domaine de Chevalier

L'Esprit de Chevalier

L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge

Inside Information

"A strikingly rich, complex wine, the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier is a spectacular blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon that achieved 13% natural alcohol. It offers lots of lemon oil, orange blossom, crushed rock and white flower-like characteristics. It is super-intense and medium to full-bodied with a level of concentration rarely seen. Nevertheless, the tart acids, freshness and beautiful winemaking have resulted in a stunningly balanced, pure wine. It has 30-50 years of longevity ahead of it, although most of it will be drunk during its first decade of life." – Robert Parker

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