Bordeaux 2007

Domaine de Chevalier

Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan

Bordeaux

An update to - Let's put a stop to the nonsense... one hears about the 2007 vintage in Bordeaux!

Bottom line.

On the 15th of September, I pointed out that Bordeaux was capable of producing a very successful

2007 vintage, despite the poor weather over the summer. Today, I am fully prepared to state that Bordeaux did indeed produce remarkable wine in 2007 for two main reasons: The growing season was extremely long. It began in early April (the warmest month in 2007!) and finished very late, in mid-October, when the last Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested. In fact, this long growth cycle made up for the cool and not very sunny summer weather. The Indian summer in Bordeaux was absolutely outstanding. The month of September 2007 was the sunniest in the past 60 years, and October was very cool, dry, and sunny. This long growing season produced different results depending on the grape varieties, terroir, and Viticultural practices at each estate.

Dry white wines

The 2007 dry whites are beautiful across the board. As a rule, white wine grapes retain freshness and fruity aromas in cool summers. The quality is exceptional, reminiscent of such great years as 2001, 2004, and 2006. At Domaine de Chevalier it was difficult this year to find any lots of wine that were not good enough to go into the grand vin! The 2007 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is truly magnificent. It has a pure, fresh, brilliant bouquet with citrus overtones as well as power, enormous elegance, and incredible length on the palate. This is decidedly on a pedestal with the chateau's very greatest vintages.

Red wines

The red wines of Bordeaux, which call for a greater degree of ripeness, are somewhat more variable, depending on the terroir and winegrowing philosophy at each estate. There will unquestionably be some very great wines from this vintage, able to hold their own with some of the great recent years, including 2005. At Domaine de Chevalier I have never before seen such beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (130 days between the flowering and the harvest, as compared to the usual 120 days maximum...)

Sweet white wines

After meticulous picking in September, which only brought in a few grapes, the perfectly botrytised fruit harvested in late October accounted for a very great Sauternes vintage, displaying extraordinary aromatic purity. At Château Guiraud the small crop was of very great quality, with aromas of menthol, tea, spice, candied fruit, chestnut, etc. The wine lasts forever on the palate and has all the qualities of a great Guiraud....

Conclusion

I like years like this in Bordeaux. The long growing season lets the grapes ripen slowly and gently, giving the wine great elegance and complexity as well as considerable freshness. To me, this is truly great, classic Bordeaux.

Olivier Bernard

33850 Léognan FRANCE