Chablis

The 2016 vintage is the archetype of “small but perfectly formed”. In spite of the vintage’s challenges (a catastrophic spring frost signifi¬cantly reduced the size of the harvest), the wines are excellent. Blended from three different vineyard sites in the villages of Chichée and Fontenay, this wine has the perfect balance of bright fruit and sizzling mineral precision. Unadulterated by oak, it lends itself to a wide variety of food pairings, including (of course) shell¬fish and seafood dishes.
Adam Bruntlett, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

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.

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

This comes from three plots, Bas de Chapelots, Pargues and Cartes. Samuel picked the hailed parts on 3^rd September, then the rest a few days later. There is a little touch of youthful bitterness which gives way to a fine-boned, well-constructed Chablis, with plenty of energy. Drink 2018-2021.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Samuel has not only been able to take back his share of the family vineyards but he has also moved into some excellent premises which he has been refurbishing, in the heart of Chablis. It was good to find him in such a cheerful frame of mind. The long, slow vinification of his 2015s has done the wines a lot of good. We found a concentration of minerality and characteristic saline finishes.

This is intensely Citrusy, with electrifying acidity and a long, clean finish redolent of oyster shells. Thierry has once again crafted an exemplary village Chablis despite a gruelling vintage in which he lost over half his crop to frost and hail. 
Will Heslop, Burgundy Buying Assistant, summer 2018

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.

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.

Eleni told me that the 2015 Chablis Les Pargues was picked a little earlier than anticipated. They brought forward the picking by three days to September 4, because of damaged grapes after the hailstorm, but fermented it in the normal way and didn't use any extra products. It has an attractive bouquet with lime flower and blackberry leaf tincturing the citrus fruit. The palate has a pleasant weight in the mouth, quite creamy in texture and richer than I was expecting, leading to a clean and pure, orange zest tinged finish. Probably earlier drinking than others, but well crafted and it should be considered a success after the hail.
Neal Martin - 31/08/2016

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*
Typically a rich, round cuvée owing to Vaillons’ south-easterly aspect, this is exceptionally so in 2015. Nonetheless, white rather than yellow fruit dominates the nose, while the fresh, saline finish that suggests a bright future.
Will Heslop, Wine Buyer


*Discount already applied to product price. No further discount will be applied at checkout.

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.

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.

The wine is made with three plots: 60-year-old vines at the top, 30 in the middle and 80 at the bottom. Samuel noted that the grapes were beautifully golden but even so the wine has come through with a fine, fresh quality. Indeed there is a steely intensity to this. It has perfect balance, long and concentrated. Drink 2019-2023.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Samuel has not only been able to take back his share of the family vineyards but he has also moved into some excellent premises which he has been refurbishing, in the heart of Chablis. It was good to find him in such a cheerful frame of mind. The long, slow vinification of his 2015s has done the wines a lot of good. We found a concentration of minerality and characteristic saline finishes.

From 60-year-old vines, the nose offers citrus and floral notes. After the initial zesty kick, this becomes more expansive on the mid-palate, tightening up again with an unerring finish of chalk, lemon and salinity. Drink 2020-2026.
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.

Pinson's La Forêt is classically Chablis on the nose, displaying citrus fruits and marine, iodine aromas. The palate is very lemony and crystalline, quite ethereal, precise and energetic, with sizzling power. There is almost an electric feel to the wine, as though a current is running through it. Wonderful.

The frost meant that there are only three barrels of this in 2016, as opposed to the usual five. As ever with Vaillons, there is a good level of richness – Laurent describes it as “gourmand” – but underpinned by tension and nervosity. A chalky texture provides a cleansing freshness to the finish, along with a touch of spicy oak which will integrate further with time in bottle.

Mont-de-Milieu is the Pinson family’s largest holding of the Premiers Crus and consequently something of a flagship wine. The nose shows a little of its oak élevage at present, along with subtle wafts of noble reduction. There is a wonderful concentration of fruit, beautifully intertwined with cool, marine notes. A harmonious wine with great finesse and elegance. Drink 2020-2026.
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.

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