# Château Musset Chevalier Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (2022)

- **Producer:** Château Musset Chevalier
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €15
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, redcurrant, vanilla, cedar, cloves, toast, forest floor, mushroom, leather

## About this wine

Château Musset Chevalier is situated in Saint-Pey-d'Armens within the eastern sector of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation on Bordeaux's Right Bank. Managed under SC Musset-Chevalier and Maison Bertrand de Tavernay, the estate covers between 12 to 15 hectares of vineyards planted on a complex mosaic of clay-siliceous, sandy-clay, and gravelly soils. The property focuses on traditional Bordeaux blends, drawing on the complementary strengths of Merlot and Cabernet Franc to reflect the terroir of the region.

## Interesting facts

- Multiple vintages of Château Musset Chevalier have earned 1-Star 'Vin très réussi' ratings in Le Guide Hachette des Vins.
- The estate's vineyards are situated in Saint-Pey-d'Armens on mixed clay-gravel and sandy-clay soils.
- The 2022 vintage yielded exceptional fruit ripeness, creating a well-structured blend with 14% ABV.

## Food pairing

The rich protein and fat content in red meats like lamb and beef bind with the elevated tannins of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, softening the wine's mouthfeel and accentuating its natural depth. Earthy side dishes, such as wild mushrooms or aged hard cheeses, echo the savory complexity of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Château Musset Chevalier utilizes temperature-controlled fermentation in traditional vats to maintain fruit purity. This is followed by extended skin contact maceration to extract color and refined polyphenols. The wine matures in French oak barriques, which helps build structural complexity, soften the natural tannin matrix, and subtly integrate wood aging traits into the final blend before bottling.