Domaine de Chevalier Pessac Leognan Grand Cru Classe 2017

Drink now or cellar for up to 17 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

This remarkable domaine is often called the “secret garden in Graves” thanks to its charming location in a clearing in the middle of a forest in this famous Bordeaux sub-region. In 1983 the property was purchased by the Bernard family with the 23-year old Olivier Bernard taking on the management of the estate. Over the last few decades Olivier has dedicated his life to Domaine de Chevalier with remarkable success, almost doubling the vineyard holdings and completely renovating the winemaking facilities.

The domaine’s Grand Vin is predominantly crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon along with a smaller proportion of Merlot and a dash of Cabernet Franc. The fruit is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats before being transferred into barrels for 18 months of maturation. One unique feature of the winemaking process is that the barrels are kept in a special cold room where the barrel temperature can be maintained at 18-20 degrees Celsius. The only other Bordeaux estate to have this feature is Chateau Margaux.

This is a powerful and magnificent Pessac-Leognan wine which can be cellared for at least another 15 years thanks to its well-built structure, bold flavours, and punchy tannins. On the nose there are ample notes of cassis, blackberry and sour cherry along with dried herbs, leather and hints of cigar box spice.