News from Domaine de Chevalier

First 2014 En Primeur tasting in Bruges, at Karmeliet ***

For this is  intimate discovery and preview, we had invited our Belgian friends at Karmeliet *** for a blend tasting in the "Venice of the North"...

We tasted different lots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc before discovering the final blend of the 2014 vintage.

Then took place the wonderful lunch prepared by the virtuoso Gert Van Hecke and his team around some older vintages (white Domaine de Chevalier 2004 and 1984, red Domaine de Chevalier 1964 [Magnum], 1984, 2004 and 2004 Château Guiraud).

A big thank you to Gert Van Hecke and his team for this exceptional moment, as well as Marc Declerck and Urban Boutelegier for that perfect organization!

photo smartphone

photo smartphone

Photothèque De Karmeliet

Photothèque De Karmeliet

 

 

2010 white Domaine de Chevalier 2010, greeted in Norway!

The French white wines are honored by the great Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.
The Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2010 was placed at the head of this selection.

Also note, the 5th place of Domaine de la Solitude 2012 and 6th for G de Guiraud 2013...

Read the article...

Top 100 Bordeaux 2014, by J. Suckling. Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2011: 99

James Suckling :

The best 100 Bordeaux I tasted in 2014 underline one simple rule: The 2011 vintage is a year to buy white wine from Bordeaux.

Sure, some outstanding reds were made – particularly those from top vineyards in Pessac-Léognan, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion – but it was the dry and sweet whites of the region that were of phenomenal quality.

http://www.jamessuckling.com/the-top-100-bordeaux-of-2014.html

 

DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER BLANC PESSAC-LÉOGNAN 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.

Country France Region Bordeaux Vintage 2011 Date January 28th, 2014

I did think twice about naming my 2014 Bordeaux Wine of the Year the stunning Sauternes from Château Guiraud, considering I scored the Château La Mission Haut-Brion a perfect 100 points. Yet the Guiraud costs under US $100 while still offering amazing richness and complexity. It is the greatest wine ever made at Guiraud and is a monument to the great wine region of Sauternes.

Top 100, Wines 2014 by James Suckling: Chevalier Blanc 2011, N°6

TOP 100 WINES OF 2014,

On James SUCKLING.COM

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

Wine Rating by James Suckling - Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2011 : 99

James Suckling was back to Bordeaux in January. He tasted more than 600 Bordeaux 2011 in bottle and published his "Bordeaux 2011 - Top 40" (made of Right or left Bank, red, white or sweet wines). 
We are proud for the score of 99 Points of DOMAINE de CHEVALIER BLANC 2011 (97-98 en Primeurs, two years ago).
Double Pleasure: Château Guiraud obtained the same score of 99 Pts 

"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."

Wine Spectator: The Riddle of Domaine de Chevalier, by Mitch Frank

The "Riddle of Domaine de Chevalier" 

Many thanks to the Wine Spectator for this great article, by Mitch FRANK (Issue Nov.15, 2013).

Mitch spent long time with us last spring. He took the time to meet Chevalier, to understand the soul of the site and the men of the estate. He tells the past story, but mainly the thirty past years, since Olivier's arrival at the helm of the domaine. 
The report is beautifully illustrated with pictures of Clay McLachlan and Jean-Pierre Lamarque.
Texte on line: "the Ridle of Domaine de Chevalier" http://bit.ly/HGVPDR

Château Guiraud : organic certification

On Thursday, January 6th, the Bordeaux wine merchants and the press were invited at home ecocitizen of Bordeaux on the occasion of the organic certification of château Guiraud. Château Guiraud is the first Premier Grand Cru  Classé 1855 to obtain this certification. Report to be read on " Terre de Vin ".

François Mauss blog : new packaging (château Guiraud)

   

On the blog of Grand Jury Européen, François Mauss, who is always fully informed of the news from the wine world, talks about WIT, the festive packaging used at Château Guiraud (in french...). 

 

JANCIS ROBINSON, Domaine de Chevalier primeur 2009 (red) : 17,5+

Bordeaux 2009 – Graves/Pessac

7 Apr 2010 by Jancis Robinson

Dom de Chevalier 2009 Pessac-Léognan 17.5+ Drink 2018-2030
Strong Cabernet aromas.  Unusual!  Well balanced and zesty.  This seems what Pessac-Léognan should be.  Very dry but not drying on the finish.  Complete and full of minerality. 

JANCIS ROBINSON'S WEB SITE 

Other Jancis Robinson's notes:

Château Guiraud 2009 : 18/20

Domaine de la Solitude 2009 (red) : 15,5/20

DECANTER, Domaine de Chevalier Primeur 2009 (red):****,18 points

Domaine de Chevalier, Cru Classe Graves, Pessac-Leognan 2009

Black red, fine intensity of fragrant Cabernet fruit, touch of wild roses, concentrated yet already showing potential complexity, beautifully expressed palate with density and fragrance and a taffeta aspect that adds lift to its succulent elegance and class. Drink 2015-30. (18 points)

DECANTER

Note :

Chateau Guiraud, 1er Cru Classe, Sauternes 2009
Great pure noble rot aromas (apricot, mango), huge body, huge liquor, monumental but silky and supremely elegant, immense length, a great classic of the vintage in preparation and not at all very far from Yquem level, as are some other first growths too. (18.5 points)