2025 Domaine de Chevalier Grand Cru Classé de Graves

EXCLUSIVE - DELIVERY SPRING 2028

Domaine de Chevalier Winery

Domaine de Chevalier belongs to the absolute elite of Pessac-Léognan and is one of the most respected Grand Cru Classé de Graves estates in Bordeaux. Tucked away in a wooded area near Léognan, the château has been producing wines for generations that are known for their elegance, balance, and aging potential. Since the takeover by the Bernard family in 1983, Olivier Bernard has further developed the estate into an international benchmark, with precision in the vineyard and restrained vinification at the forefront. The style of Domaine de Chevalier revolves around finesse and terroir expression, rather than power alone. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Domaine de Chevalier is situated in Léognan, in the heart of Pessac-Léognan, on gravelly sandy soils with an underlying layer of iron-rich clay. This combination ensures excellent drainage while simultaneously providing sufficient water buffering during dry periods, which proved crucial in 2025.

The winter rains replenished the soil's water reserves well, followed by a mild and dry spring without frost. From mid-June, warm and dry summer weather persisted, with temperatures well above 30°C. Thanks to the deep roots of the old vines, the grapes were able to absorb sufficient water. Small rain showers at the end of August ultimately proved crucial to maintain freshness and balance.

Ripening was early, warm, and very uniform, with large temperature differences between day and night. This gave the grapes great aromatic precision and freshness, despite the concentration of the year.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The blend of Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2025 consists of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon clearly forms the backbone of the wine, providing structure, freshness, and length, while Merlot ensures suppleness and ripe fruit. Petit Verdot adds extra spiciness and depth. The red vineyards cover approximately 60 hectares and are managed with great precision. The grapes are harvested by hand in small crates and first selected in the vineyard, followed by manual selection in the cellar and optical sorting after destemming. This meticulous selection plays a key role in the purity of the final wine.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The harvest took place between September 11 and 26, with a yield of approximately 34 hl/ha and a remarkably classic alcohol percentage of only 12.5%. The dry summer resulted in concentrated grapes, while rain at the end of August allowed the tannins to ripen beautifully.

Vinification takes place in four separate cuveries with stainless steel, wooden barrels, and tulip-shaped concrete vats. This allows for very precise work plot by plot, and extraction is accurately tailored to the character of the grapes.

The wine subsequently ages for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, of which about 35% are new. The aging process supports the texture and complexity, without overpowering the refinement of the fruit.

Color, smell and taste

The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier opens refined and layered. Initially, notes of raspberry, cassis, and ripe red berries, followed by subtle floral nuances of iris and violets. As the wine breathes, more earthy accents of truffle, tobacco, graphite, and fine spices emerge.

On the palate, medium to full-bodied, with a strikingly harmonious and classic structure. The texture feels almost velvety, with a soft, almost cushiony start typical of great Pessac-Léognan. At the same time, the fine-grained tannins provide sufficient grip and tension.

The combination of ripe dark fruit, mineral freshness, and subtle notes of chocolate, walnut, and tree bark provides great depth. Despite its richness, the wine retains striking precision and elegance. The finish is long, layered, and very refined, with a beautiful balance between fruit, spices, and mineral tension.

What stands out about 2025 is how classic the wine feels. Less powerful than, for example, 2020 or 2022, but actually more refined, accessible, and particularly complete.

Development and drinking window

The 2025 Domaine de Chevalier possesses excellent aging potential, but will be relatively more accessible than some more powerful recent vintages. Thanks to the ripe tannins and harmonious structure, the wine will develop beautifully in the bottle.

Drinking windows range from approximately 2030 to 2075. Neal Martin expects a wine that will be ready to drink earlier than 2020 or 2022, while Antonio Galloni emphasizes the depth and complexity that point to very long aging.

Summary of professional reviews

98-99 points – James Suckling: praises the combination of depth, creamy texture, and exceptionally long finish, with notes of berries, chocolate, and walnut. 95-97 points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous: calls the wine an absolute highlight of the vintage, rich and deep with plenty of texture and floral elegance. 94-96 points – Neal Martin, Vinous: emphasizes the classic Pessac style, refined tannins, and harmonious structure, with cassis, raspberry, and subtle truffle notes. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.