A visit to Domaine de Chevalier is a perennial favourite in Bordeaux. Driving through the woods south of the city, the sudden open expanse of vineyards always comes as a surprise. Surrounded on all sides by the forests of Pessac-Léognan, Chevalier has a micro-climate and soil types suitable for the production of both whites and reds. In fact, the whites may be a little more famous, but the reds are under-the-radar stars for lovers of classically styled Bordeaux.
Chevalier’s reds don’t show the sturdy tannin structure of the wines of the Médoc, instead being approachable from a young age, and yielding supple, aromatic fruit and a stony, tobacco-scented finish. Of the vintages currently in stock, the 2009 breaks the mould a little in its exuberant richness, while the classically profiled 2012 and 2014 make for delicious drinking today. A few more years will allow the younger vintages to develop, but decant any for an hour and you will enjoy a delightfully satisfying Bordeaux.
- Nick Jackson, MW | Consultant
