Wine of the Week 2013 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc

There are not many Bordeaux proprietors that have equal enthusiasm for white Bordeaux wine as they do their red wines. But that is the truth with Olivier Bernard and Anne Bernard. They have just as much passion for their Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon blend as they do for their classic, Cabernet Sauvignon blends, and with good reason, starting with their Pessac Leognan terroir. It is the unique soil that allows for the production of equally strong red and white wine at Domaine de Chevalier. Although, it is interesting to note, that especially when it comes to older, mature vintages of Domaine de Chevalier, the white wines have displayed a better track record for aging, than the red wines!

The white wine of Domaine de Chevalier combines almost unequaled levels of freshness, concentration and minerality, along with an extraordinary ability to age and improve in the bottle for decades. 2013 Bordeaux as a vintage is a difficult sell in the marketplace. It’s hard to get consumers to rally behind the wines, due to the reputation for the red wines of Bordeaux. While 2013 is clearly a more than difficult vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and all the other red wine grape varieties, for the white wine grapes, used to make both sweet and dry white Bordeaux, 2013 is a stellar year! For lovers of white Bordeaux wine, you should be all over these beauties from the maligned and soon to be forgotten vintage.

2013 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Even though it’s still baby, the wine easily serves up all the fresh, crisp, pomelo, citrus, grapefruit, lemon peel, rocks, stones and honeysuckle you require. Richly textured, with a true purity of fruit and freshness galore, the wine leaves you with ripe, vibrant, crisp fruits that linger and refresh. As you can see this drinks well young and yet, it will also have the ability to age and evolve for decades. 95 Pts