Chablis

Our 2017 Chablis comes from two separate vineyards in the village of Chichée, renowned for its classically steely character. The small but excellent 2017 vintage has given a wine with a harmonious balance between ripe orchard fruits and crisp, refreshing mineral notes. Fermented and raised completely in tank, this is a benchmark expression of Chablis, one which is equally at home as an aperitif or with seafood or a goats cheese salad.

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*
There are certain classics that should always be in the wine rack and now that ‘R’s have returned to months a good Chablis is vital for Autumn’s seafood. Delicious now, maybe even better over the coming months. From a 0.7 ha parcel of 50-year-old vines facing east-south, 1er Chablis is surely the best example of the influence of site on the quality of wine. A slightly richer colour than the 2016 Village and initially a little restrained, this soon opens to a broader nose of ripe pear and white peach. The real distinction however is the underlying chalky-talc character so beloved by the strongest advocates of terroir. Again, the absence of oak means the significant texture has been derived entirely from some 18 months on the fine lees resulting in concentration and length seldom delivered at this price.
Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager
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The sort of wine that there should always be a bottle of on-hand in the fridge. Ideal for a mid-week supper or for filling the interminable void while preparing the Sunday lunch. Predominantly from a parcel of 45-year-old vines, the quality of the fruit is amplified by very little intervention in the winery, raising this above the majority of Village level Chablis. This isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel – crisp green apple, lemon wax and honeysuckle florals deliver the freshness expected with 8-10 months in tank producing a lovely texture on the palate. Lean, linear, steely acidity is marked but not aggressive and you’re simply left with the most agreeable impression.
Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager

Named after his father, Le Domaine d’Henri is Michel Laroche’s legacy to his children. This wine presents an excellent opportunity to sample the “once in a generation” 2014 vintage – which is renowned for its uniformly high quality across the region. With outstanding freshness, crisp citrus fruits, and Chablis’s trademark oyster-shell aromas, this is a wonderful wine which pairs beautifully with shellfish and lighter white meat dishes.
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This is a blend of five different parcels, split 50:50 between the left and right sides of the river Serein. Raised entirely in stainless steel to preserve freshness, this displays a touch of oyster-shell reduction on the nose. There is a good weight of citrus fruit on the palate, a lovely zesty attack and a pithy, chalky finish. Benchmark Chablis. Drink 2018-2022.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

The legendary Louis Pinson himself retired in 1983, having made some fabulous oldstyle Chablis. His great-grand-daughter, Charlène, along with her father Laurent and her uncle Christophe are now in charge. There is a Rue Pinson in Chablis, dating back to an earlier generation when three Pinson brothers lived in identical houses on the street. Everything is hand-harvested, with sorting of the grapes both in the vineyard and at the winery. The wines are wild-fermented, mostly in stainless steel tanks, before barrel ageing, with the proportion of oak depending on the cuvée. Despite describing 2016 as a testing year, Laurent Pinson and his daughter Charlène are upbeat, declaring themselves very happy with the quality of the grapes and resultant wines. Volumes are down in many cases, and the limited-production Cuvée Mademoiselle has not been made this year.

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 20%*

Laurent Pinson explains La Fôret, historically very linear, has taken on a little more weight in recent vintages. Nonetheless, it remains deliciously fresh and mineral, with just the slightest buttery character from eight months in used oak. Drink 2018 to 2023.
Will Heslop - Wine Buyer

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Raised 100% in stainless steel, the aromas show some of the exotic fruit of the vintage with white peach notes, but there is the unmistakable marine quality of true Chablis on Kimmeridgian soil underneath, along with the zesty lemon edge. Approachable now and will be enjoyable over the next few years. 
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

Based in La Chapelle Vaupelteigne, north of Chablis town, Jean-Claude's first vintage was the 1992. Though trained as an architect Jean-Claude Bessin preferred to take over the vineyards of his father-in-law. From vines planted in the 1950s and 1970s, this wine is always one which punches well above the weight of its humble “village” classification. Indeed, the old vines with their deep root systems were of particular benefit in the warm, dry 2015 vintage, allowing the vine to tap into water reserves deep in the subsoil and avoid the dangers of water stress.

As a result this wine displays a pleasing restraint in the form of the classic iodine and oyster shell character one associates with Chablis, accompanied by the riper white peach and honeysuckle flavours of the warm vintage.

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*

This is much more exotic, but in a very good way. The wine has real nervous tension along with Montée de Tonnerre’s natural opulence. There’s a touch of spice here, excellent acidity, a fine thread of concentrated yellow plum fruit and a little bit of orange blossom. Complex and interesting. Drink 2018-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer


Quantity is a bit of a problem this year as the Michels suffered hail in 22 of their 25 hectares. Fortunately most of the Grands Crus were spared, but they have very little Chablis or Premier Cru. Guillaume Michel brought in most of the crop in three and a half days, so there was no deterioration of the grapes from the areas which suffered. The grapes were in fact ripe to perfection and, as with last year, this is an impressive range of wines.

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Until 31st August this product is discounted by 20%*

The 2015 Chablis 1er Cru Troesmes comes from the Pommier's 1.80 hectare of 45-year-old vines on white marne soils. Aged 70% in stainless steel and 30% in used barrels, it has a lean, flinty bouquet that needs to muster more vigor in the glass. The palate is fresh and tensile on the entry, nicely focused with a brisk, quite saline finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is a well-made right bank Chablis premier cru.
Neal Martin - 31/08/2017

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This is the flagship among the Premiers Crus. It shows a fine pure bright colour, with maybe a touch of oak alongside the fruit on the nose. Offering a very full, generous yet balanced mouthful of lemon curd fruit, this is a superb expression of the more generous side of Chablis. It finishes with a lovely salinity from the Kimmeridgian soil. Drink 2018-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Volumes for 2015 are down after the pre-harvest hail but the quality here is exemplary. The father and daughter team of Laurent and Charlène Pinson, aided by other members of the family, continue to make excellent and very fairly priced wines from a range of vineyards. Part of our selection is shown below. The wines are mostly vinified in stainless steel then given a proportion of barrel ageing. 

From vines planted in 1956, this is a beautiful Chablis offering a pure, clear and classic bouquet which is both chiselled and mineral. There is good concentration on the palate, with a lovely mix of floral and fresh fruit notes. Drink 2018-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Volumes for 2015 are down after the pre-harvest hail but the quality here is exemplary. The father and daughter team of Laurent and Charlène Pinson, aided by other members of the family, continue to make excellent and very fairly priced wines from a range of vineyards. Part of our selection is shown below. The wines are mostly vinified in stainless steel then given a proportion of barrel ageing. 

The 2016 Chablis village was harvested at just 18 hectolitres per hectare, and the low yield has had the effect of concentrating the fruit, giving a more powerful style than is typical. However, unlike the more tropical 2015, there is a minerality and energy that screams of Chablis. The saline finish and firm, mineral core give a real structure on which to hang the rich fruit. An exceptional village Chablis.

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 20%*

A pure, clear colour, this wine has an intense nose with notes of white fruit and wet wool. Initially it’s very juicy, but with balancing acidity and medium weight on the palate. The most remarkable feature is the finish, which goes on and on and leaves a salty tang which calls for shellfish.


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This comes from two plots – Chapelot and the 90-year- old Cartes – this year, rather than the usual three, as the Pargues was hailed completely. This is very classic Chablis on the nose, while the palate has gorgeous concentration and purity, with a saline, marine finish. Punches above the weight of a normal village wine. Drink 2020-2024.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer

The brilliantly talented Samuel Billaud was finding family politics hard going, so he founded his own wine label in Chablis separate from Domaine Billaud-Simon. However with the sale of Domaine Billaud- Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel has got back a proportion of the vineyards for himself. Whether from domaine sources or purchased grapes, Samuel Billaud’s wines demonstrate his exceptional talent. Samuel feels that 2016 is very close in style to the outstanding 2014 vintage, and says that the concentrating effect of hail and frost early in the season, along with the cool ripening period has given a good balance of matière and acidity. This is a very promising set of wines which will gain in weight and complexity with élevage . Samuel is undoubtedly making some of the finest wines in Chablis.

Sébastien feels that the Côte de Léchet is the most serious of all his wines, and the one with the most ageing potential, and it is hard to disagree. There is a lovely marine quality to the nose, tangy and saline. On the front of the palate, there is a surprising weight of fruit before everything tightens up and the limestone character kicks in. Concentrated and pure, this crackles with energy. Drink 2020-2025.
Adam Bruntlett, Burgundy Buyer

The Dampt family has been making wine for more than 150 years in Chablis. Having studied viticulture in Beaune, young Sébastien worked in Sancerre, Nuits-St Georges and Australia to broaden his experience before returning to the family domaine, Daniel Dampt, in 2005 to work alongside his father and brother. In 2007, he took back seven hectares under his own name. The domaine is situated in Milly, to the west of Chablis, and 50 percent of the holdings are Premier Cru. The wines are largely vinified and raised in stainless steel and concrete, the aim being to produce a linear and classic interpretation of Chablis. Sébastien explained that 2016 has a certain richness from the low yields, thanks to frost, hail and subsequent mildew. Thankfully the perfect summer and ripening season meant that quality is exceptional, with wonderful balance and classically pure Chablis characteristics. While Sébastien makes a range of Premiers Crus, we have chosen to focus our offer on his excellent Côte de Léchet; an historic family parcel located just a stone’s throw from the cellars.