L'actualité du Domaine de Chevalier

Les Grues...

Le temps délicieux et estival se prolonge. Mais nous arrivons à la Toussaint qui est souvent la période charnière à laquelle nous basculons dans le véritable automne.
Ce que n'ignorent pas les grues, guidées par leur instinct, et la diminution du jour, elles filent vers le sud en survolant le vignoble : ce spectacle et ce chant sont toujours aussi émouvants...

TOP 100 des Dégustations 2014 de James Suckling: Chevalier Blanc 2011

TOP 100 WINES OF 2014,

Sur le site de James Suckling

N° 6 / Top 100 : Domaine de Chevalier 

TASTING NOTE

Score 99

A white that is dense and structured with amazing honey and dried-fruit character. Mango, pineapple and papaya. Chalky undertones from the soil. Full and chewy with a beautiful depth of fruit and intensity. So much going on here. Phenomenal depth of fruit. Why drink grand cru Burgundy? Better in 2017.

My colleague Nick Stock and I posted more than 10,000 tasting notes on JamesSuckling.com in the past year; with all the great wines among them, it was difficult to pick the best.

The Top 100 Wines of 2014 below are based primarily on ratings. I considered all wines that scored 96 points or more during the past 11 months, and that had at least 6,000 bottles in production. Finally, I ordered the wines according to what I thought were the most exciting: the ones with the wow factor.

 

I also considered as my Wine of the Year the glorious Château Guiraud 2011. This is clearly an amazing wine for the money, with bottles costing about US$70. And it shows all the depth, richness and structure one could possibly expect in a great sweet wine.

Then, of course, there was the pinot noir of Peter Michael Winery of California. Some people probably think that PM only makes great cabernets, but its pinots are equally compelling.

No. 6, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, illustrates how great 2011 is for dry white Bordeaux, while No. 7, Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco, highlights the wonderful possibilities of the 2010 vintage for Barolo. The vintage made some harmonious nebbiolos that have excellent structure but remain balanced and refined, giving them drinkability.

And finally, at No. 10, Champagne Billecart-Salmon Extra Brut 2006 is one of the best 2006 champagnes yet released, with layers of character and bone-dry intensity.

 

Top 100 Wines of 2014 - Click for notes and scores.

1. Viña Cobos Malbec Perdriel Luján de Cuyo Cobos 2011

2. Penfolds Shiraz South Australia Grange Bin 95 2010

3. Masseto Toscana 2011

4. Château Guiraud Sauternes 2011

5. Peter Michael Winery Pinot Noir Fort Ross Seaview Sonoma County Le Caprice 2012

6. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc Pessac-Léognan 2011

7. Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco 2010

8. Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago Block 5 2010

9. Seña Valle de Aconcagua 2012

10. Champagne Billecart-Salmon Extra Brut 2006

Bordeaux 2012, the Usual Suspects, par Justerini & Brooks

 

La Master Class "Pessac-Léognan" au London Wine Experience a clôturé Samedi un long périple d'Anne et Olivier Bernard, qui les a menés de New York (pour le New York Wine Experience), à Londres en passant par Moscou avec l'Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.

 

 

A l'issue de la dégustation de Londres, sur le blog du "Wine Merchant", Justerini & Brooks:

 

 

 

Friday, 24 October 2014

Bordeaux 2012: The Usual Suspects

Posted by Justerini & Brooks

 

The annual Bordeaux tasting at the Royal Opera House was rather less busy than normal, but those who did attend were in up-beat mood. Our friends from Aquitaine arrived fresh from an Indian summer that has lifted spirits and hopes for the 2014s. And it would appear that the worst of the ‘Bordeaux Bashing’ may be over. Clients are beginning to re-visit this once darling region and re-discover their love affair with Claret.

 

2012 was far from an ideal growing season and the harvest was particularly precarious. Initially we thought this favoured the early ripening Merlots from Pomerol and Pessac. The challenge on the left bank was to wait for maturity and risk dilution and rot or cut one’s losses and harvest before the rain. At the time of the primeur tastings our Chairman said that ‘terroir, technique and timing were all key to success in 2012’. How right he was.

On the evidence of Thursday’s tasting, it is the usual suspects who have risen to the top of the pile. Perennial successes such as Grand Puy Lacoste, Domaine de Chevalier, Malartic Lagraviere, Smith Haut Lafitte and the two Pichons have made beautiful wines with concentration, vitality and freshness. It is not a blockbuster vintage, that is for sure, however, there are wines that will give enormous drinking pleasure and are sensibly priced. Xavier Borie’s GPL and Olivier Bernard’s Domaine de Chevalier Rouge deserve special mention – these are both tremendous value.

At the time of release we were rather negative about Sauternes. We always try to be honest in our assessment and we discouraged clients from buying these wines. It is clearly not a good vintage for sweeties – the wines are at best simple and lack botrytis. When there are so many good Sauternes vintages to choose from, one can quite easily forget about the 2012s altogether.

Those pessimistic about the primeur system said at the time, ‘these are not wines to buy en primeur’, and they have largely been proved right. Many of the 2012s are still available at their opening prices (good news for consumers) – but given how well some of the reds tasted and their relative affordability, they may not be around at these prices for long…

 

- Tom Jenkins, Bordeaux Buyer

 

 

Fin des Vendanges de merlot

Domaine de Chevalier, 6 octobre 2014.

Ce matin, nous coupions les derniers merlots. Demain quelques jeunes vignes de cabernet sauvignon.

Les Blancs 2014 à mi-chemin au Domaine de Chevalier

 

Olivier BERNARD, vendange des jeunes vignes de sémillon, 2014

Nous sommes entrés dans notre deuxième semaine de vendange du blanc (commencée le 10 septembre), et coupions ce matin nos premiers sémillons dans les jeunes vignes.

Si, comme le dit Rémi Edange, « la première mi-temps (l'été frais) nous a donné des inquiétudes, la deuxième mi-temps quant à elle, est extraordinaire ! »

Welcome to the Rain ! 17 septembre 2014

Après trois semaines de magnifiques conditions estivales, nous souhaitions un peu de pluie pour rafraîchir et hydrater la vigne. Elle est arrivée hier soir, apportant une dizaine de millimètres d'eau et de grands sourires sur les visages !  La maturation se poursuit...

Il reste environ une semaine de cueillette devant nous, dans les blancs. La qualité des jus en barrique, les splendides fruits qui nous attendent à la vigne et les prévisions pour les jours à venir, nous permettent d’envisager un très grand millésime de blanc avec des équilibres fantastiques !

Un petit mot des rouges : nous sommes déjà certains d’avoir des merlots au sommet, pour les cabernets nous aimerions avoir encore deux semaines de cette belle météo…  

Domaine de Chevalier 2013, noté par Robert Parker: Blanc 93-95+ ; Rouge 90-92

"Une nouvelle fois, la preuve est apportée, que dans les millésimes réputés difficiles, le Domaine de Chevalier accomplit souvent des choses impressionnantes."

Robert PARKER , The Wine Advocate, Août 2014

 

 

 

• DOMAINE de CHEVALIER ROUGE Primeur 2013

    90-92

Made from an unusual blend for this great estate, the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot (no Petit Verdot), and the total production was less than half of normal. The wine achieved 13% natural alcohol, but yields were frightfully low. The result is an outstanding effort in this frequently disappointing, average quality vintage. The wine possesses a deep plum/ruby color as well as a sweet bouquet of incense, charcoal, red and black currants, and loamy soil. Medium-bodied with good texture, depth and purity, sweet tannins, and present but unobtrusive acidity, it should drink nicely for 12-15 years.
Once again, it proves that Domaine de Chevalier often accomplishes impressive things in so-called “off” vintages.

• DOMAINE de CHEVALIER BLANC Primeur 2013

    93-95+

A strikingly rich, complex wine, the 2013 Domaine de Chevalier is a spectacular blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon that achieved 13% natural alcohol.
It offers lots of lemon oil, orange blossom, crushed rock and white flower-like characteristics. It is super-intense and medium to full-bodied with a level of concentration rarely seen.
Nevertheless, the tart acids, freshness and beautiful winemaking have resulted in a stunningly balanced, pure wine.
It has 30-50 years of longevity ahead of it, although most of it will be drunk during its first decade of life.

Une visite d'Izak Litwar : les 2013, et autres grandes bouteilles...

Sur son blog, notre ami Izak LITWAR commente les 2013, ceux du Domaine de Chevalier, mais aussi les trois vins du  Clos des Lunes et ceux du château Lespault-Martillac.

Le même soir lors d'un dîner familial, nous dégustions de très belles bouteilles...

Egalement à lire sur le blog d'Izak qui fait un tour d'horizon complet du millésime 2013 et relate ses visites dans bien des propriétés.

 

Domaine de Chevalier

 

Astonishing evening on Sunday the 6th April. In addition to little vertical tasting of white Domaine de Chevalier, I tasted other wines from Olivier Bernard. Then dinner with some fantastic wines from vintages ending with 4.

 

Wines tasted - fruity and easygoing 2013 Lespault Martillac red (85p), aromatic 2013 Lespault Martillac white with very good acidity and length (88p), 2013 Domaine de Chevalier red which was aromatic with silky fruit and tannin, fine smoothness on the palate and meaty finish (91-92p), three versions of 2013 Clos des Lunes, fruity and attractive Lunes Blanche (87p), more intense and longer Lunes d'Argent (88p) and fatter, more deep and more concentrated Lunes d'Or (90p).

 

Then four vintages of white Domaine de Chevalier - classy, stylish, rich and refined 2013 (94-95p), lighter 2012 but still with classy elegance and finesse (94p), stunning 2011 with fabulous intensity, complexity and length, sophisticated touch, great richness and length (96p) and even better 2010 which was extremely sophisticated, with fabulous acidity and depth, and long caressing aftertaste (97p).

 

For dinner I had white D.d.Chevalier 1964, 1984 and 2004. 1964 was interesting old wine, sherry flavors, well-balanced (89p), 1984 was refined with finesse, great complexity and great balance (93p) while 2004 was slightly oxidized. Then a blast from the past, 1924 Lafite, which had incredible nose of truffles, truffy palate too, riveting elegance and remarkable complexity as well. Amazing wine. 95p. 1974 Latour followed, but it was past its peak with almost all fruit gone and acidity all over in this wine. 84p. Next wine in line was 1934 Ausone, mature fruit, silky, very delicate and tasty, yet in fine balance but acidity is well-pronounced. Impressive old wine. 92p. 1954 Leoville Poyferre was clearly marked by age, extracted coffee beans, good balance. 87p. 1964   Haut Brion showed nice intensity and concentration, polished style, nice balance and finish. 91p. 1964 Petrus tasted like bottle kept under pristine conditions - youthful dark color, almost black ink, powerful, extraordinary complexity, structure, depth and length. Unquestionably the best wine of the dinner. Heavenly stuff. 99p. We finished dinner with a curious 19 century bottle of Yquem, which probably was from vintage between 1891 and 1893.

 

 

Olivier Bernard explains - " You know, 2013 vintage was very difficult and needed a lot of work in the vineyard and cellar (left), we succeeded anyway to make a really good red and beautiful white despite difficult circumstances (middle), so I hope you will enjoy my wine in both colors (right)."

 

 

Showstopper!

 

  

 

1924 Lafite, 1974 Latour and 1934 Ausone - April 2014

 

 

 

Domaine de Chevalier 2004, un commentaire de Hugh Johnson

Commentaire sur le compte Twitter du célèbre écrivain du vin, Hugh Johnson (31 mars 2014) :

"Another splendid '04: a half of Dom de Chevalier: full red, dense and grainy, sweet, expansive, clinging. Definitive Graves."

 

(photo JP-Lamarque, à la Chambre de Commerce de Bordeaux, Palais de la Bourse)

Golf d'Arcachon: Coupe Domaine de Chevalier-Ch. des Coulinats

Sur le parcours dominant le bassin d'Arcachon, avait lieu dimanche, la compétition que nous parrainons avec le château des Coulinats (délicieux Sainte-Croix-du-Mont propriété de la Famille Meilhan ; Thomas Meilhan, excellent golfeur, est également notre oenologue responsable qualité : à droite sur la photo, au côté d'Hugo Bernard, autre golfeur passionné).

Golf International d'Arcachon. Les résultats complets

Dîner Domaine de Chevalier au NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen (Shanghai)

Le 3 Juillet prochain Adrien Bernard présentera nos vins lors d'un dîner au prestigieux NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen, l'une des meilleures tables de Shanghai.