L'Esprit de Chevalier 2020

Fleshy and demonstrative, the 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier bursts with aromas of sweet berries, plums and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with polished tannins and an expansive finish, it will drink well young.

Plump and direct, with a mix of red currant and plum notes laced with a touch of red licorice, all backed by a light twang of iron on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2027.

Deep plum-purple colour, this has some pretty tight tannins, its structure a little less sleek overall than the first wine. You feel the tannins weighing heavier through the mid-palate, but at the same time the bilberry fruits, coffee bean wash, and enjoyably chewy tannins give an old-school charm.

The lead pencil and blackcurrant aromas are very impressive. Full-bodied and tannic, but very velvety with fine texture. Lots of pretty fruit. Typical for the appellation. Second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Try after 2028.

Black cherries, smoke, roasted nuts, flowers and red fruits come to the fore on the nose. Forward, soft, silky and polished on the palate, with additional nuances of cocoa, spice and licorice accompanying the sweet, ripe red fruits, this is already quite lovely and should be perfect for near-term drinking while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2023–2032.

The 2020 L'Esprit De Chevalier is more restrained aromatically, yet has outstanding purity in its red and black fruits as well as notes of dried herbs, tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. It's a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced, and certainly delicious second wine that will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and shine for a decade.

The 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little shake to wake up notes of baked plums, blackcurrants, and boysenberries, followed by hints of tar, dried sage, and chargrill with a waft of black olives. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, youthful black fruits and savory accents are complemented by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a mineral note.

A pure, refreshing nose, as if breathing the clean mountain air on a beautiful spring day—sunny yet cold. Mineral on the palate, with concentrated fruit, both creamy and crystalline.