Domaine de Chevalier--Vintage 2000

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DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER The estate is located on the fringes of the Lande pine forests which stretch to the Atlantic coast. The vineyards are planted with 37 hectares of red varietals and 5 hectares of white. Of the reds the proportions are 64 Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc and 3 Petit Verdot, and of the whites 70 are Sauvignon Blanc and 30 Sémillon. The château is currently owned by Olivier Bernard who has done much to enhance the reputation of their wines. Vine density is 10,000 vines per hectare which is well above the Bordeaux average of 6,500. This creates competition amongst vines, and produces lower yields of concentrated fruit. Average yields range from 30 to 40 hectolitres per hectare. The soil is gravelly black sand over a rich subsoil of clay and sandstone. The red grape harvest normally begins in mid-September with the Merlot and continues with the Cabernet in the first half of October. Three sortings are undertaken; firstly in the vineyard, then on sorting tables at the winery and finally after destemming. For the red wine fermentation is undertaken in "squat" sized vats ranging in size from 100 to 150 hectolitres at a comparatively high temperature of around 31 to 32 degrees which enhances extraction with regular pumping over and occasional pigeage. Maceration on the skins takes place for between 15 and 25 days, before it is run off into oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. The wines are blended in January and then aged for between 14 and 24 months in 40 to 60 new oak. The second wine L'Esprit de Chevalier is aged for approximately 12 months in two year old barrels.

24 bottles per lot

Details

Domaine de Chevalier--Vintage 2000
Léognan (Graves), cru classé
Tasting Note: Rich toasted oak, mocha nose and flavour; medium- to full- bodied, rich, good, length **(**) now - 2016 M.B.
24 bottles per lot

Special notice

ParcelWineBuyers from within the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on just the buyer's premium (NOT the hammer price) Buyers from outside the EU: VAT payable at 17.5% on hammer price and buyer's premium. If a buyer, having registered under a non-EU address, decides that an item is not to be exported from the EU, then he/she should advise Christie's to this effect immediately. Please note that all the lots in this Sale are offered in Bond Only. UK Excise duty, Clearance VAT and delivery charges will not be included on any Sale invoices. Should you require your purchases to be delivered to a UK mainland address duty paid, we can arrange for the applicable UK Customs and delivery charges to be invoiced to you separately. For more information please contact Shona McIntosh or Antonia Essex in the Wine dept. smcintosh@christies.com aessex@christies.com

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