About the Wine

L'Esprit de Chevalier is the second wine from the renowned Domaine de Chevalier Grand Cru Classé from Graves. Since 1986, the Domaine created this label with practically the same grapes and quality standards that they use for their Grand Cru Classé, the result is a complex, balanced, elegant, and well-structured wine, and quoting James Suckling, it is truly a "Fantastic Second Wine!"

If you want to taste the magic of the Grand Vin “Domaine de Chevalier” without having to spend an arm and a leg, the L’Esprit de Chevalier is your new best friend! I can assure you that this wine will charm you as much as its older brother.

Domaine de Chevalier is regarded as one of the most important estates in the prestigious Pessac-Leognan appellation.

Taking a unique approach during harvest, all grape sorting is done exclusively in the vineyards, even if it means some grapes are picked one at a time! To combat potential frost damage they employ wind machines and even helicopters in certain vintages. The reason this works is that it mixes the lower layers of cold air where the vines are with warmer air above the vines in order to avoid damage from frost. These types of meticulous practices are how they garnered a reputation for producing great wine even in average vintages.

Remaining a family-owned and managed estate. Olivier Bernard who began managing the estate at 23 years old in 1983 is now joined by his wife Anne Bernard and their two sons. Sustainable vineyard practices have been adopted to tend to the vines which are an average of 50 years old.

Surrounding many of the estates that performed best during the Graves Classification of 1959, Pessac-Leognan was established in 1987 in order to recognize the high-quality red and white wines produced here.

Tasting Notes: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Fruity aromas, notes of red, black fruits, and smoked notes. On the palate, it is full-bodied with fine and elegant tannins and a long finish.

Reviews

This is an extremely polished and refined young wine with gorgeous blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, dark-chocolate, and bark character. It’s full-bodied with ever so fine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. ~95 James Suckling 

The second wine of this terrific estate in the Graves region of Bordeaux, the 2018 L'Esprit De Chevalier checks in as a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that will spend 14 months in barrel. It offers a full-bodied, rounded, incredibly satisfying, and sexy style as well as some exotic characteristics in its kirsch, blackcurrant, orange blossom, and liquid violet-like aromas and flavors. Elegant yet with ample fruit and texture, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade or more. ~92-94 Jeb Dunnuck

The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, this shows all the richness of the vintage, with weighty tannins and a generous future. Blackberry fruits and a core that promises plenty of potential as the dryness softens contribute to what will be a richly structured, complex wine. Drink from 2026. ~93 Wine Enthusiast

A serious second wine with real grip and fresh fruit, richly extracted and with good quality, firm tannins. Austerity takes precedence over the fruit a little, but it's a good wine worth looking out for. ~90 Decanter

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