Think of the appellation of Pessac-Léognan and your mind probably first turns to one of the more northerly estates close to Bordeaux itself, perhaps the twins Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion, or a near neighbour perhaps, such as Château Pape-Clément. That is because these estates typify the most commonly presented image of a Pessac-Léognan château; a grand mansion surrounded by its vineyard, held in by tall cast-iron railings, and all around the suburbs of Bordeaux, bearing down on each little enclave of vines, an ever present reminder of the menace of the French property developer. Another good example would be Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, although sadly here the very pretty château lies hidden behind not railings but a drab concrete wall. Move further south and although the suburbs are less dense, they maintain a presence; every château a viticultural outpost surrounded by houses but here also areas of woodland, some quite expansive. Read on for my expanded profile of Domaine de Chevalier, including new detail on Oliver Bernards work at the domaine, and new images. thewinedoctor/bordeaux/chevalier.shtml [subscribers only]
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 10:18:58 +0000