2017 Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Blanc

Tasting notes

Excellent, pure white wines… 
This precociousness led to the picking of white wine grapes in the first few days of September. The harvest took place in several passes over a two-week period from the 1st to the 15th. The grapes were picked as they gradually became perfectly ripe and balanced in each plot. 
The fruit was beautiful, in excellent condition, and very tasty. 
The Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon wines are very aromatic, pure, and mineral. They are also rich and extremely fresh. They are presently being aged on the lees.  

Vintage Notes

Crop loss due to frost from the 25th to the 29th of April  
The results of the frost that hit in late April (especially on the 27th of that month) were very uneven. Some parts of the vineyard were decimated but, fortunately, others – such as the historic plateau in front of the château – were spared. The latter benefited from early ripeness and reasonable yields.   

Very early flowering, from the 15th to the 22nd of May, followed by an exceptionally hot, sunny month of June 
Early flowering in plots not badly hit by frost led to growth two weeks ahead of an average year.  In addition, the sunshine and 
warmth in June added another week to this head start! 

The weather in July and August preserved the grapes' intrinsic freshness. 
Fortunately, temperate weather in July and August locked in acidity, giving the fruit beautiful freshness. Sugar levels were thus not excessive. This boded well for excellent balance on the palate.  
All grape varieties ripened early and harvesting in all plots finished in September. 

Viticulture

A.O.C. : PESSAC-LEOGNAN – GRAND CRU CLASSÉ DE GRAVES 
Soils : Soil of dark sand and fine white gravel 
Average age : 35 years 
Vine Density : 10 000 vines/ha 
WHITE : 6 Hectares 

HARVEST : 
WHITE grapes in baskets with successive picking through the vines. RED grapes in baskets, with triple sorting: 1st in the vines, 2nd on the complete bunch on the sorting table and third by individual grapes on the sorting table. 

Vinification

low pressing. 
Settlement  (débourbage)and alcoholic fermentation in the barrel. Ageing : on the lees in the barrel with stirring, for 18 months 
New barrels : 35 % 

Winery Description

The Domaine de Chevalier located in Léognan, the Capital town of the Graves Region has a long history. It appears on the famous map of Pierre de Belleyme in 1783. In 1983 the estate was purchased by the Bernard Fami-ly, N° 1 in France on the spirits market and a major negociant of premium Bordeaux wines.
It has been run ever since by Olivier Bernard who perpetuates that spirit of balance and the constant drive for perfection which have been the hallmark of this outstanding wine.
The red Domaine de Chevalier, the flagship of the Pessac-Léognan appellation belongs to the elite of the great classified growths of Bordeaux. 
The white Domaine de Chevalier is recognized as one of the world’s finest dry wines.