Domaine de Chevalier 2007 - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This is a highly regarded estate, featuring a superb, contiguous vineyard surrounding the château—one of the best-cultivated in the Bordeaux region. Olivier Bernard is a tireless ambassador for Bordeaux wines around the world. He is also one of those who knows the value of his product most intimately, thanks to daily tastings with the estate’s countless visitors—a pioneer in welcoming the public. The whites are the most distinguished in the appellation, while the reds are models of Bordeaux classicism in their balance and flavor. The latest reds are very impressive for their added body and complexity. Beautiful nuances, tension, and energy define the white Spirit-de-Chevalier, which is the perfect reflection of a great wine. The 2016, 2017, and 2018 vintages, both red and white, are simply at the top of their game; the estate richly deserves a 5-star rating.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A vineyard located near the Bordeaux metropolitan area, yet surrounded by forests. Although it is content with the modest title of “domain,” this classified growth belongs to the elite of Bordeaux wines thanks to its unique terroir: gravel, sometimes covered with wind-blown sand, over a clay subsoil. In this vintage, which was particularly challenging for reds, it lives up to its reputation. Didn’t it receive a “Coup de Coeur” for a 2002, a vintage considered average? The elegance of this 2007’s color is reflected in the bouquet, where the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) yields lovely notes of blackcurrant and cherry. Charm and finesse sum up the rest of the tasting: the full-bodied palate rests on silky tannins, and the oak is judiciously balanced. Well-structured, the wine has everything it needs to reach its peak in three or four years before pairing with refined, characterful dishes, such as a thick cut of venison.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

One of the vintage’s standout wines, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot offers a fragrant, juicy nose with notes of blackcurrant and forest floor. Strikingly precise, pure, and dense, it is medium-bodied, elegant, and intensely aromatic. Best enjoyed over the next 10–15 years.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Since 1983, the Bernard family has spared no effort to keep this beautiful estate among the appellation’s top producers. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and a vineyard that has now reached the maturity needed to produce exceptional grapes, the wines are impeccable, both white and red. The vineyard, located in one of the appellation’s cooler areas on the edge of the Landes Forest, is tended like a garden. The white grapes are sorted with extreme care, and their vinification has become considerably more sophisticated, without altering the style or class of this highly regarded wine. Chevalier embodies finesse and elegance, without compromising its aging potential.

James Suckling