Chevalerie 2018 Bourgueil Cuvee Chevalerie

 The "home" vineyard produced a superb wine in 2019, perhaps les dense and dark than the Busardières, but more expressive of the very old vines and the limestone below and beatifully balanced. La Chevalerie, between the Galichets and the winery, is slightly higher on the slope, with more clay on the top part. The Turonian tuffeau is not even three feet below. The oldest vines date from 1903 and 1922, the average being 75 years. The sandier part of the plot goes into the Galichets. This cuvée is a perfect introduction to the more “serious” tuffeau driven bottlings of the domaine.  It's a bit easier when young than Busardieres - you get the flesh and texture brought by the sand, you also pick up the racy, salty and fresh acidity typical of the tuffeau. The fruit is a nice mix of red berries and black plum and cherry, with Chinese badiane and coriander seed, finishing with a great mix of salt, smoke and leather. The Caslots have farmed this parcel since 1640! The 2019 will be great fun to enjoy in its youthful intensity, but best to wait 3 to 5 years then drink until 2040.