2012 Domaine De Chevalier

Domaine de Chevalier is an 85-acre estate outside of Leognan, in France’s Bordeaux region. The estate dates to the 18th century and is today owned by Olivier Bernard. Though its overall production is relatively small at a total of about 200,000 bottles annually, it makes both red and white wines. Domaine de Chevalier is the flagship red wine and L’Esprit de Chevalier is the second red. Also produced are white wines of the same name. The whites are 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. The reds are 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Domaine de Chevalier “is a true connoisseur’s wine. The production is tiny and the wines are among the most highly sought of Pessac-Leognan, but most important, the quality can be impeccably high.”

Pessac-Léognan was created in 1987 from the northern part of the left bank Graves appellation. Before then it was simply part of Graves, or sometimes it was called Haut-Graves. Unlike many other Bordeaux appellations, Pessac-Léognan is known for both red and dry white wines, although its reds are more famous. The appellation includes ten communes and the area’s most important châteaux, including Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. There are 2,964 acres of vineyards in Pessac-Léognan and 16 classified growth estates. The main red grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. White grapes grown are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with a little Muscadelle. Pessac-Léognan is considered to have the best terroir of the greater Graves region.