Chablis

One of the most famous wine names in the world, Chablis has suffered from many imitators. 50 years ago there were just 400ha of vineyards in Chablis, but today there are 4,900ha. Both the generic and premier cru vineyards have doubled since the early 1970s and now includes areas of Portlandian as well as traditional Kimmeridgian clay. 

Being further north than the rest of Burgundy, and on a different version of limestone (Kimmeridgian, with some Portlandian), the wines are subtly different in style - a touch more austere with a beautiful fresh minerality which makes them so good with seafood. Purists think that only the Kimmeridgian soils, with traces of marine fossils, should be used.

Outlying (Portlandian) vineyards are designated as Petit Chablis. The vast majority of production is classified as Chablis, without any vineyard name, while 40 vineyards are classified as premier cru. However several of these are grouped together to make 11 more commonly used premier cru designations. The 7 grand crus are in a group together overlooking the town of Chablis and the River Serein.

• 622 hectares of Petit Chablis.
• 3,780 hectares of Chablis and Chablis premier cru vineyards (40 in all). Best vineyards include: Fourchaumes, Montmains, Mont de Milieu, Montée de Tonnerre, Vaillons, Vaucoupin.
• 103 hectares of grand cru vineyards (7 in all). Blanchots, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, Vaudésir.
• Recommended Producers:  Bessin, Billaud Simon, Dauvissat, Defaix, Droin, Fevre, Picq, Seguinot-Bordet