Shop All Wines Domaine de Chevalier L'Esprit de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan Rouge 2018
Domaine de Chevalier L'Esprit de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan Rouge 2018
Proprietary Blends | France
JS95, WE93, JL92, JD91+, DC90
SPECIAL: GROUND SHIPPING INCLUDED ON ORDERS OF 4 BOTTLES OR MORE!
Not to pat ourselves on the back too much, but we’re really feeling like we knocked it out of the park on this one. For one thing, this is a hard-to-find wine ANYWHERE, much less priced like this. 95 POINTS for a domaine’s “second” wine is just amazing, too. Trust your Napa Valley wine merchant - everyone here at the office already loaded up on this for their personal cellars!
L'Espirit de Chevalier is the second label of Domaine de Chevalier. The wine is made from younger aged vines, and generally has many of the same qualities as the “grand vin” with the added advantage that it can be enjoyed earlier. The Chevalier estate has been owned only by three families since it was acquired by Jean Ricard back in 1865, with the Bernard Family at the helm since 1983.
The wine pulses with rich blackberry and black currant fruits, followed by roasted coffee, anise, and cedar notes. It is full and structured with plenty of grip and silky, mouth coating texture. It’s worth noting (especially after you read the notes below) that the older brother of the L’Esprit scored 97 points (at a significantly higher price!). For $29.95, this is a colossal no-brainer if you love rich, modern, structured Bordeaux. We can’t say much more...there’s less than 20 cases! Run, fly and do what you must to score some!/p>
About the Producer
L'Esprit de Chevalier is the second label of Domaine de Chevalier and the wine is made from younger-aged vines. This charming red wine has many of the same qualities as the grand vin and the added advantage that it can be enjoyed earlier. The Chevalier estate has been owned only by three men since it was acquired by Jean Ricard back in 1865. In 1983, the estate has been owned by the Bernard Family. Since 1983, the vineyards have been expanded, and the estate went through modern renovations.
This is an extremely polished and refined young wine with gorgeous blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, dark-chocolate and bark character. It's full-bodied with ever so fine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Try after 2026.
93 Wine Enthusiast -
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The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, this shows all the richness of the vintage, with weighty tannins and a generous future. Blackberry fruits and a core that promises plenty of potential as the dryness softens contribute to what will be a richly structured, complex wine. Drink from 2026.
Smoky dark red berries with cigar box, herbs, forest leaf and currants create an impressive perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, silky, polished, refined and leaves with a juicy mouthful of fruit, dark cocoa, herbs and espresso beans. This is perfect for near term drinking while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop.
Checking in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot brought up mostly in used barrels, the 2018 Domaine De Chevalier L'Esprit De Chevalier has a rich, dense, medium to full-bodied style with slightly reserved darker currant and cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and earth, firm tannin's, and a good finish. While most second wines are up-front and geared for early drinking, this is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. It should keep for over a decade.
A serious second wine with real grip and fresh fruit, richly extracted and with good quality, firm tannins. Austerity takes precedence over the fruit a little, but it's a good wine worth looking out for.
