Domaine des Malandes in Chablis 27-hectare domaine belongs to Lyne Marchive, formerly Rottiers, née Tremblay. Most of the holdings were put together by André Tremblay in the 1940s and 1950s when it was possible to swap a hectare of agricultural land suitable for growing wheat and get two hectares of vineyard land, including premiers crus, in return. How that has changed.

Lyne wanted to go to wine school in Beaune, but on discovering she would be just about the only girl (how that has changed, too) she decided not to take up her place. She is currently assisted by Guénolé Breteaudeau who originates in the Pays Nantais, Muscadet country.

Improvements in recent years include the move to ploughing the vineyards and managing them according to lutte raisonée, along with hand-harvesting of Côte de Léchet, Fourchaume and the grands crus.

The lesser wines and Côte de Léchet, because of its overtly mineral structure, are fermented and matured in stainless steel. Twenty-five per cent of Fourchaume and Montmains are vinified in older barrels before transferring to tank, and 40 per cent of Vau de Vey receives the same treatment, increasing to 50 per cent for Vaudésir and 100 per cent for Les Clos. None of the wines shows any obvious barrel influence however, more a rounding-out of the palate.

Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 0.53ha
Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 0.90ha
Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey 3.50ha
Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet 1.40ha
Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 1.18ha
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 1.29ha
Chablis (two cuvées) 15.00ha
Petit Chablis