L'Esprit de Chevalier 2019

The 2019 L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc has a fresh nose of oyster-shell-tinged citrus fruit and a very faint hint of chai. The palate is well balanced, offering superb delineation and depth, flavors of green apple mixed with nectarine and wild peach, and a persistent finish. Excellent.

[ Primeurs Notes 2019: 91-92 ] Lighter, inevitably a bit leaner than the grand vin, but with plenty of clarity and precision in the cedar aromas and the fruit’s salinity. You find here the rigor of a true Léognan, but without the boredom.

Presents a mix of bramble, mulling spice and savory notes, with steeped plum and red currant fruit flavors and a tarry tug on the finish. Shows good energy throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2031. 8,333 cases made.

Dark chocolate and mint on the nose, some sweet blackcurrant. I love the upfront juiciness here; it's well textured with fine tannins that gently support the fruit, letting it shine brightly on the palate. There's a creaminess to this too which is so satisfying. Really a beautiful, gentle, delicate but nuanced wine. Good freshness and drinking appeal with fruit and energy. Easy enjoyment, well made. Well structured. Good winemaking on show.

Plums and fresh flowers, such as roses, on the nose with some stems and parsley. Full-bodied with round, polished tannins that are medium in stature but long and caressing, giving the wine nice tension on the palate. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

Soft, silky, refined, fresh and sweet, there is a gorgeous sense of purity to the red fruits on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, elegant, silky and forward, the finish comes through with layers of sweet, ripe cherries that linger. This is perfect for near-term drinking while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2022–2031.

The second wine of Domaine De Chevalier, the 2019 L'Esprit De Chevalier is a ruby/purple-hued effort offering juicy black cherry and currant-like fruits as well as sappy, cedary herbs, damp earth, and hints of chocolate. This medium-bodied, juicy, up-front, certainly delicious red will keep for 10-15 years. I suspect it will be a good value as well.

L’Esprit de Chevalier 2019 is deep garnet-purple in color. Notions of cedar, spice cake, and tobacco leap from the nose, with a core of baked plums and boysenberry preserves. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock full of black fruit preserves flavors, supported by chewy tannins, finishing on a stewed tea finish.

Logo on the cork: DIAM10 Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose with pure, ripe fruit. Soft on the attack, flavorful mid-palate with a pleasant presence, the wine finishes with gentle tannins. Normal length.