Domaine de la Chevalerie 2005 Tasting Notes

Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes 2001 & 2004 

This year’s wines from Domaine de la Chevalerie are the Vieilles Vignes 2001 and 2004, produced from some of Pierre Caslot’s oldest vines, planted 75 years ago.  These are classic Loire reds from the Cabernet Franc grape, and because this wine is as delicious in its youth as it is when it has a bit of bottle age, we always offer you two vintages to compare.

After the scorching summer of 2003 the weather returned to ‘normal’ in 2004, when, following a warm dry September, Pierre was able to harvest a well-ripened crop.  This will be a very good vintage, and with its delightful flower-and-fruits bouquet and mouth-watering fruit on the palate, this wine is super to drink now, but it also has a rich, deep structure that will ensure excellent cellar potential for up to 10 years.  It will accompany poultry and game dishes very well, and try it lightly chilled as an apéritif.

2001 was a slightly lighter vintage and now, with the benefit of 3 years’ bottle age, it is beginning to develop a more robust nose to accompany the usual red fruit flavours.  Drink this with poultry and pork dishes, and, like the 2004, slightly chilled as an apéritif.  It will develop further in bottle for at least another 3-5 years.  This wine won a Silver Medal at Paris in 2003.