La propriété
Propriété de la famille Bernard depuis 1983, le magnifique Domaine de Chevalier figure au sommet des plus grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux. Le domaine prend place au cœur de l’appellation Pessac-Léognan, dans un écrin de verdure au sud de Bordeaux.
Le vignoble
Le Domaine de Chevalier veille sur un vignoble comportant plus d’une quarantaine d’hectares de vignes dédiées aux vins rouges. Le vignoble repose sur un terroir de graves aux sous-sols argilo-graveleux. L’encépagement du Domaine de Chevalier se compose de cabernet sauvignon, de merlot et de cabernet franc.
A disturbing pattern appears to be emerging with recent offerings from this chateau. After bottling, the wines are fruitless, ferociously tannic, and completely out of balance. Even the white Domaine de Chevalier seems to be missing the great intensity of flavor and ripeness that one expects from this renowned estate in Pessac-Leognan. A medium to dark ruby color is deceptive in view of the charmless, hollow, aggressively tannic wine that has emerged since bottling. The sweet, ripe fruit present in cask has turned into a charmless wine of dubious balance. I cannot see it ever turning itself around. It reminds me of the 1975. Given the number of marvelous Domaine de Chevaliers I have tasted as well as purchased over the years, I hope my tasting notes for the 1993-95 prove to be terribly inaccurate.