Domaine de Chevalier 2022

An intense great Pessac-Léognan white wine of great finesse

The estate

Owned by the Bernard family since 1983, the beautiful Domaine de Chevalier is one of Bordeaux's greatest Cru Classés. Like a secret garden, this emblematic cru in the Pessac-Léognan appellation is located in a green setting south of Bordeaux.

The vineyard

Domaine de Chevalier 2022 blanc comes from a rare vineyard comprising 7 hectares of vines, in conversion to Organic Farming, on a gravelly terroir with clay-gravel subsoils, giving rise to a great Pessac-Léognan wine.

The wine

To celebrate Olivier Bernard's 40th harvest at the helm of the estate, the bottles of this 2022 vintage are adorned with a unique label, illustrated with the work created in 1941 by the famous Chinese artist, Xu Bei Hong, who was a student at the Beaux-Arts in Paris. "Cheval Galopant" is a powerful symbol of the dynamism of Domaine de Chevalier since its acquisition by the Bernard family in 1983.

The vintage

A relatively dry, cool winter delayed budburst, protecting the vines from frosts until March. The mild weather from mid-April onwards favoured fine flowering and rapid vegetative development. The month of June was marked by an initial heatwave, as well as by a hailstorm that hit the western side of the rows on the evening of 18 June. The vineyards, particularly the old vines, withstood a hot and particularly dry July, which was followed by a hot August punctuated by two rainy spells. The fine weather in September, accompanied by sparse rainfall, was ideal for fine-tuning the ripening process.

Winemaking and ageing

Harvested by hand in small crates, the grapes are sorted 3 to 5 times to retain only the best from the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon varieties. Cold settling and fermentation in barrels. Finally, the wine is aged for 16 to 18 months in barrels (1/3 new).

Blend

Sauvignon Blanc (70%)
Sémillon (30%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine de Chevalier 2022 Blanc

Tasting

A subtle blend of freshness and intensity, this Pessac-Léognan white wine reveals a delicate touch and a refined expression of the aromas specific to each plot.