Domaine Chevalier Père & fils

Domaine Chevalier, the flagship of Ladoix Sorority - Claude Chevalier had five daughters. Today, three of them oversee a wine estate that, like the Corton hill where they live, starts in the plain with Bourgogne and ends at the top of Ladoix, where the grand cru Corton Charlemagne shines. Between Julie, Chloé, and Anaïs, the blood ties are as strong as those that bind them to their land. Determined Julie is in charge of sales while Anaïs, the youngest sister and an accountant by training, handles the estate's management. Chloé, the girl with red hands, is in charge of the pipette. Managing the winemaking process since the 2010 vintage, she learned the trade from other Burgundians before gaining experience in Corsica and the United States in Sonoma Valley. This pragmatic approach aligns her views with those of her cellar master. Their wine labels should soon evolve, with the "Father & Son" mention disappearing in favor of a more fitting "Fathers & Daughters." Did you say sorority? Farming Practices The estate practices sustainable agriculture. The grapes are harvested by hand with a sorting table upon reception for the reds. Vinification & Aging For the reds: maceration for 12 to 20 days. Cold pre-fermentation with temperature control. Slow and gentle extraction with daily punching down and pumping over, according to tastings. For aging: 1/4 new barrels for village and premier cru wines, 50% for grand crus. For the whites: settling in tank followed by aging for 10 to 12 months. The wines, unfined and unfiltered, are bottled at the beginning of the year following the lunar calendar. Regarding the whites: The entire harvest is pressed, with the pressing done in successive stages, tasting at each stage to decide on the blend. Settling in tank for a more or less long period of 24 to 48 hours depending on the vintage. The must is cooled and put into barrels, with a long alcoholic fermentation of 4 to 12 weeks. Stirring is done based on tastings and the character of the vintage. The wines are then fined, filtered, and left to rest for 2 to 3 weeks before being bottled. Critics' Reviews 3 stars B&D Key Wines Ladoix Village and 1er Cru - red and white Aloxe Corton Village and 1er Cru - red Côtes de Nuits Villages - red Gevrey Chambertin - red Corton Corton Charlemagne