L'Esprit de Chevalier

History of L'Esprit de Chevalier

The Domaine de Chevalier, nestled like a clearing in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan forest, has ancient origins. Formerly known as Chibaley, from the Gascon word for knight, it owes its name to an old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela that borders the property. The estate rose to prominence in the second half of the 19th century under the impetus of the Ricard brothers, who forged its style. In 1953, it was awarded the Grand Cru Classé de Graves designation, for both its red and white wines.

Since 1983, the Domaine de Chevalier has belonged to the Bernard family, major Bordeaux négociants. Under the direction of Olivier Bernard, now joined by his sons, the domaine de Chevalier has made significant investments and has risen to the elite of the appellation. It is in this spirit of excellence that the second wine, named L'Esprit de Chevalier, was born in 1989, its name evoking the particularly distinctive spirit of the estate. Available in both red and white, it accompanies in particular the entry into production of the young vines planted from 1986 onwards.

Terroirs and Vines of L'Esprit de Chevalier

The vineyard of the Domaine de Chevalier extends in a single block around the château, in one of the coolest areas of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, on the edge of the forest. This verdant setting protects the vines and encourages early ripening of the grapes. The terroir combines black sands and fine white gravels resting on a remarkably well-drained clay-gravelly subsoil, ideal for great red wines as well as dry whites.

The red grape varieties give pride of place to cabernet sauvignon (approximately 63%), complemented by merlot, petit verdot and cabernet franc, while the whites combine sauvignon (approximately 70%) and sémillon. Managed like a garden and committed to a High Environmental Value approach, the estate reserves primarily for L'Esprit de Chevalier the harvest from its young vines, as well as the cuvées that do not quite reach the structure and precision of the Fine Wine, but which nonetheless remain elegant and refined.

Vinifications of L'Esprit de Chevalier

The philosophy of the Domaine de Chevalier is based on a rigorous selection of the harvest, which can involve up to five successive passes during the picking. The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates, then meticulously sorted in the vineyard and in the cellar. The red wines are vinified plot by plot, in stainless steel, concrete and wooden vats, in order to refine the selection and the blending.

The white wines ferment directly in barrels. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels, with approximately one third new wood, over a period of sixteen to eighteen months, with lees stirring. For L'Esprit de Chevalier blanc, the barrel-by-barrel selection makes it possible to produce a rich, lively and complex second wine. This same rigour makes the red a charming, elegant wine that is already appealing in its youth.

The Cuvées of L'Esprit de Chevalier

L'Esprit de Chevalier rouge (Pessac-Léognan, red) is the second red wine of the estate, with a dominant of cabernet sauvignon. It reveals a brilliant garnet colour and a complex, fragrant nose, blending blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant with floral notes of iris and violet, enhanced by spices and dark chocolate. The palate is balanced and silky, resting on velvety tannins and an elegant freshness. Charming and refined, it can be enjoyed more quickly than the fine wine while still being able to age for around a dozen years, and is an ideal match for duck breast, ribeye steak or red meats.

L'Esprit de Chevalier blanc (Pessac-Léognan, dry white) is the second white wine, produced from a blend of sauvignon and sémillon. Rich, lively and complex, it is distinguished by the purity of its aromas of citrus fruits, exotic fruits and white flowers, underpinned by a beautiful mineral tension. A faithful reflection of the fine white wine, it can be enjoyed from its youth, with fish, seafood or goat's cheese.

Wine enthusiasts will also be able to discover the estate's great wines: the domaine de Chevalier rouge, a model of Bordeaux classicism combining structure, complexity and elegance, and the Domaine de Chevalier blanc, considered one of the greatest dry white wines in the world.