Chevalier

History of Domaine Chevalier

The history of Domaine Chevalier Père et Fils begins in 1850, when Émile Dubois founded a small wine-growing estate in the hamlet of Buisson, in Ladoix-Serrigny. The estate was subsequently taken over by his daughter and her husband, Émile Chevalier, who gave his name to the property. Over successive generations, the Chevalier family honed their viticultural heritage and gradually extended the estate across the finest hillsides of the Corton hill. His son, Georges Chevalier, succeeded his father and continued to develop the estate with passion.

In 1975, Claude Chevalier joined the estate alongside his father. The estate then comprised 11 hectares. From 1994 onwards, Claude took charge of all vinification and gradually imposed his own style. An iconic figure in the Burgundian wine world, he developed exports and elevated the estate to one of the finest signatures on the Côte de Beaune. In recent years, Claude Chevalier has passed the torch to his three daughters, who represent the fifth generation: Chloé oversees the technical side (viticulture and vinification), Julie manages sales and export as well as logistics, while Anaïs handles administration and welcomes visitors at the estate. This successful family transmission ensures the continuity of a refined and precise style, acclaimed by wine enthusiasts the world over.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Chevalier

The vineyard of Domaine Chevalier extends over 14 hectares, entirely planted on prestigious terroirs of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. The majority of the plots are located around Ladoix-Serrigny, at the foot of the Corton hill, which shares with Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses the famous Grand Crus Corton and Corton-Charlemagne. The estate notably holds plots in the Grand Crus Corton Le Rognet and Corton Les Grandes Lolières, as well as in Corton-Charlemagne. To these are added several Premier Crus in Ladoix (Les Corvées, Le Clou d'Orge, Les Gréchons in white) and in Aloxe-Corton (Les Valozières), village-level cuvées (Ladoix, Aloxe-Corton), and a plot in the Côte de Nuits with a Gevrey-Chambertin cuvée.

The grape varieties reflect the diversity of the appellations, with 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay (to which a small plot of Aligoté is added). The soils, typically Burgundian, are marl-limestone on the hillsides of the Grand Crus, clay-limestone on the Premier Crus and village plots, with nuances specific to each climat. The south-east exposure of the commune of Ladoix offers ideal conditions for sunshine and ripening. The vines are managed using demanding sustainable viticulture, allowing precise control of yields and ripeness levels. Harvesting is done by hand, a guarantee of rigorous sorting and optimal quality of the grapes entering the winery.

Vinifications at Domaine Chevalier

In the cellar, under the technical direction of Chloé Chevalier, Domaine Chevalier Père et Fils applies vinification methods faithful to Burgundian traditions. The red grapes are vinified in temperature-controlled tanks, with a maceration period of generally 10 days, with measured pigeages and pump-overs for extraction of the finest kind. The objective is to produce wines full of substance and fruit, faithfully reflecting the singularity of each terroir. After destemming, pressing is carried out in successive stages, with tasting at each stage to decide on incorporation into the final wine.

The aging then takes place in oak barrels for a period of 10 to 12 months on fine lees, allowing the wines to gain in harmony, complexity and aging potential. Since 2008, in a commitment to preserving terroir and the fruitiness of the wines, only cuvées destined for long aging benefit from a proportion of new barrels (50% for the Grand Crus, 33% for certain Premier Crus, 15 to 25% for others). Older barrels (1 to 4 wines) are used for the more approachable cuvées. For the whites, fermentation takes place in barrels following a 24-hour settling and cooling process, with an aging period of 11 months. The wines are then blended in tanks, then bottled at the estate at the beginning of the year according to the lunar calendar, without fining or filtration (with a few exceptions).

The Cuvées of Domaine Chevalier

The Bourgogne Aligoté is the estate's traditional entry-level white wine. A fresh and thirst-quenching wine, marked by aromas of citrus, green apple and white flowers, with a lively palate and a saline finish, ideal as an aperitif or with seafood.

The Bourgogne Blanc is a regional Chardonnay crafted from plots situated around Ladoix. A precise and well-balanced wine, marked by aromas of white flowers, citrus and white fruits, with a taut finish that represents an excellent entry point into the house style.

The Ladoix Blanc is a village-level Chardonnay of great elegance. A discreet yet profound wine, marked by aromas of white flowers, yellow fruits and almond, supported by a fine mineral framework and a persistent finish characteristic of the great whites from the Corton hill.

The Ladoix 1er Cru Les Gréchons is an iconic white Premier Cru from Ladoix. A taut and complex Chardonnay, marked by aromas of toasted hazelnut, honey, yellow fruits and flint, supported by an incisive mineral framework and great aging potential.

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is the estate's white pinnacle. A lightly oaked but never excessive Chardonnay, endowed with excellent body and a firmness of constitution derived from the great terroir, broader on the palate than long in finish, with savory notes and great aromatic complexity. Vinification in barrels (50% new) for 11 months, in the great tradition of the most prestigious Burgundian Chardonnays.

The Bourgogne Rouge is the estate's entry-level red wine. A generous and fruity Pinot Noir, marked by aromas of cherry and raspberry, endowed with a supple palate and fine tannins, perfect for everyday cuisine.

The Côte de Nuits-Villages is a distinctive Pinot Noir from the far south of the Côte de Nuits. A structured wine, marked by aromas of black fruits, spices and undergrowth, endowed with a solid tannic framework and good aging potential.

The Ladoix Rouge Village is a representative cuvée of the appellation, crafted from the blending of several village plots. A well-structured Pinot Noir, endowed with a fragrant bouquet that develops great complexity with age, and a solid aging potential in the cellar.

The Ladoix 1er Cru Les Corvées is one of the iconic Premier Crus of the estate. A full-bodied and deep Pinot Noir, marked by aromas of ripe black fruits, soft spices and undergrowth, supported by a noble tannic framework and a persistent finish.

The Ladoix 1er Cru Le Clou d'Orge is another Premier Cru of the appellation. A Pinot Noir of great breeding, distinguished by remarkable aromatic finesse and a delicate mineral framework, perfectly reflecting the expertise of Chloé Chevalier on the terroirs of Ladoix.

The Aloxe-Corton Village is a fleshy and deep Pinot Noir, sourced from plots situated at the foot of the Corton hill. A well-balanced wine, marked by vibrant red fruit, notes of soft spices and a silky tannic framework, in the great tradition of this recognized appellation.

The Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozières is an iconic Premier Cru of the estate. A Pinot Noir of great breeding, marked by dense substance, complex aromas of black fruits, leather and spices, supported by a noble tannic framework and great aging potential.

The Gevrey-Chambertin is the estate's foray into the Côte de Nuits. A powerful and complex village-level Pinot Noir, marked by deep aromas of black fruits, liquorice and noble spices, supported by a structured tannic framework characteristic of the queen appellation for reds on the Côte de Nuits.

The Corton Le Rognet Grand Cru is one of the two iconic Grand Cru cuvées of the estate. Sourced from the Rognet et Corton plot in Ladoix-Serrigny, this Pinot Noir displays a deep plum-colored robe, a nose characterized by notes of black fruits (blackcurrant, blueberry) and a full, generous palate. Aged 12 months in barrels (50% new), it offers great elegance and characteristic red fruit aromas, acclaimed by all the leading guides.

The Corton Les Grandes Lolières Grand Cru is the estate's other red Grand Cru, located in Ladoix slightly below Le Rognet et Corton. Favored south-facing exposure, vinification in temperature-controlled tanks for 10 days, aging in barrels (33% new) for 12 months. A Pinot Noir of great nobility, marked by dense substance, fine tannins and remarkable aromatic persistence, built for a very long cellaring.