Super Second: 2018 Domaine de Chevalier L'Esprit de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan
One of the brightest stars in Pessac-Leognan is Domaine de Chevalier. The Domaine produced its best wines to date in 2018. Their flagship cuvee earned a near-perfect 99-point score, while their second wine secured a 95-point score from the honorable, James Suckling. Today you can get a taste of the wine Jeb Dunnuck calls "one of the top second wines out there."
The 95-point 2018 L'Esprit de Chevalier from Pessac-Leognan is not just a second wine from one of the best estates in all of Bordeaux, it's a bargain beast with a price tag that seems too good to be true for a 95 point wine of this caliber.
The spirit of Chevalier is full of fruity aromas, notes of red, black fruits, lavender, dark chocolate, and smoked bark. It's a full-bodied beauty with fine, elegant tannins, and an everlasting finish. You can entertain guests today or wait a decade-plus to indulge in decadent spoils.
Ranked among the most elite producers in Graves along with Haut-Brion, Haut-Bailly, and Pape-Clement; Chevalier is led by rockstar winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt and Olivier Bernard. The Bernards have a long history in Bordeaux dating back to 1155. In 2018 they produced their best wines to date!
The weather in 2018 got off to a rocky start but ultimately provided excellent fruit after a successful growing season in Bordeaux. Pierre Lawton of the Bordeaux merchant Alias, says “this is one of the great years.” Pierre, whose family has documented Bordeaux vintages for more than three centuries continues by saying, “we have not seen a vintage like this for a long time. It has the character of the 1959 but with a touch of the 1947.” The 59 and 47 vintages are amongst Bordeaux's hall of fame of great vintages.
The picture becomes clear when you couple one of the finest Domaines in the region, the immensely talented winemaking knowhow of Stéphane Derenoncourt, and one of the greatest vintages in Bordeaux, this wine is almost too good to be true.
Sprint to check out to lock-up this under $40, 95-point, cellar-worthy libation, from the sensational 2018 Bordeaux vintage with more than $25 in savings per bottle. Happy Drinking!
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