Clos des Lunes Lune d’Argent 2018

Perhaps no estate produces better white bordeaux than Domaine de Chavalier in Graves. Since 1983, Olivier has run the winemaking show at Domaine de Chavalier. But after nearly 35 years of doing the same thing, he also took on winemaking duties at the great Chateau Giraud, the well-known Premier Cru Classé producer of the sweet white wine Sauternes.

But then he decided to take on a vanity project – something that would shock the wine world. Enter Clos des Lunes. With it, his mission is clear: create the best dry white wine in Bordeaux, or don’t do anything at all. But the finances didn’t pencil out so well. Take grapes that were destined to easily craft some one of the most desirable dessert wine in the world which easily fetches three figures – and instead create a white wine masterpiece for less than $25?!?!

Bernard knows he has his doubters but doesn’t care; he’s excited for this new chapter which he says is unlike any other in his journey. His object is crystal clear: create a fine dry white wine that will with time become part of the same legend that describes the sweet wines of Sauternes.

Crafting wine off an ancient vineyard in Sauternes, Bernard relies on an intimate relationship with the Bordeaux terroir he knows so well and knowing the precise time to pick each vintage (prior to noble rot setting in). In the exceptional 2018 vintage, Oliver Bernard’s ‘Lune d’Argent’ is a knockout. Both the Wine Spectator and James Suckling echoed my own sentiments – and each gave 93 points.