Domaine de Chevalier 2020

The powerful, fruity, and balanced intensity of a Graves Classified Growth

The estate

Owned by the Bernard family since 1983, the magnificent Domaine de Chevalier is at the top of the greatest Classified Growths of Bordeaux. The estate is located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, in a green setting south of Bordeaux.

The vineyard

Domaine de Chevalier oversees a rare vineyard comprising 60 hectares of red vines. The vineyard is made up of vines averaging 35 years old and rests on a gravelly terroir with clay-gravel subsoils characteristic of Pessac-Léognan.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage is marked by a harvest of exceptional quality and perfectly ripe grapes. The year is characterized by its early flowering and harvest due to the particularly sunny weather. The vineyard indeed benefited from abundant rains in the spring before going through a hot and dry summer that brought the berries to an ideal maturity.

Vinification and aging

After manual harvesting in crates during which a sorting in the vineyard is carried out, the berries are sorted a second time on a table with optical sorting. Then, the grapes are put into thermoregulated vats by gravity to carry out the alcoholic fermentation. Manual punch-downs are performed. The maceration lasts about 3 weeks at a maximum temperature of 30 degrees in a stainless steel vat, one in steel-aluminum, one in truncated concrete and a wooden vat. Finally, the wine ferments in the vat before aging in barrels, 35% of which are new, for 18 months, including 4 months on lees.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (65%), merlot (27%), petit verdot (5%), cabernet franc (3%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for Domaine de Chevalier 2020

Tasting

Color
Domaine de Chevalier 2020 has a deep and bright color of a dark red, black at its core.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is marked by a floral and fruity expression. Black cherry, blackcurrant and blueberry are highlighted by finely peppered and vanilla spice notes as well as an earthy hint.

Palate
Domaine de Chevalier 2020 embodies a powerful, balanced and intense wine due to its concentration and freshness. The density is immediately felt on the palate with fleshy but fine tannins. This cuvée is carried by the great elegance of its tannins and its remarkable fruity expression. All the elements are gathered to make it a great vintage for aging.