2015 Chablis

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

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 (summer 2017)

These old vines, the last to be picked, are from the end of l'Homme Mort sector, a cooler site which delivers grapes with thick skins and hence great concentration of flavour, especially after a long but very gentle pressing. The 2015 has lovely, fresh, concentrated fruit; a powerful structure with good tannins; and a complex, richly fruited finish. There are multiple layers of flavour, waves of pure white fruit and a few fresh plums too. Drink 2019-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

Visiting the domaine during the 2015 harvest, we found Margaux Laroche beaming like a cat with two tails. The storm which had dropped hail over other vineyards had merely provided much needed water for their Fourchaume vines. The grapes badly needed the extra juice which the rains provided, and the extra hang time allowed for them to assimilate the water usefully and then regain their equilibrium behind. The resulting wines are terrific.

From 50- to 60-year-old vines, this displays the lovely suave texture of Les Preuses, as yet very tightly knit, showing the concentration of the vintage but also the fresh, mineral underlying acidity. Drink 2020-2025.
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.

A fine, pale colour, this has a very steely backward nose. The concentration is absolutely there, with the detail still to come. The fruit swells beautifully on the palate, with clean fresh pear notes and a very fine sense of balance, bearing the freshness of the best wines of the vintage alongside the weight. Drink 2020-2026.
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.

Clear, cool, refined, insistent and powerful; half of this is barrel-fermented. A spice or two shows the sunshine of the vintage but this is really classic, mineral Chablis, enormously long. Grand vin, the terroir wins out. Drink 2021-2030.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

We visited Benoît Droin towards the end of the 2015 harvest. “If you had seen me a week ago, straight after the hail, I was on the point of committing suicide, but actually things have turned out much better than we feared,” he told us. Yields were of course affected in several vineyards but the wines across the board are extremely fine. The proportion of wood used reflects the style rather than the seniority of each cuvée.

A lovely pale colour and a very fine fresh nose, with energy and minerals: this is very classic. It tastes of the terroir more than the vintage. It has marvellous harmony, some yellow plums behind, no great heat or weight, just a lovely touch of salinity at the back. Really very fine. Drink 2019-2025.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

In common with most of his colleagues, Didier Séguier was ready to harvest in early September; starting on Thursday 3rd with the vineyards which had been hit by the hail storm earlier in the week. The damage was to volume rather than quality and certainly just from tasting it was not possible to see where the hail had fallen. These are powerful wines which have nonetheless retained the qualities of classic Chablis.

Clear, powerful, classy, this is a wine of real strength and character. This shows the sunny side of the vineyard plus a hint of oak behind, but it is the intensity through the middle which is really special. The wine has lovely, pure, concentrated fruit with a touch of freshness, even a welcome sense of green. Definitely a keeper. Drink 2022-2032.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

In common with most of his colleagues, Didier Séguier was ready to harvest in early September; starting on Thursday 3rd with the vineyards which had been hit by the hail storm earlier in the week. The damage was to volume rather than quality and certainly just from tasting it was not possible to see where the hail had fallen. These are powerful wines which have nonetheless retained the qualities of classic Chablis.

This wine (30 percent barrel-fermented) has a rich, spicy nose with some bacon fat. A huge, sunny mouthful, it’s immensely vigorous. Some yellow fruit notes follow behind. There is enough acidity here and a well constructed finish with good grip. Just half the normal crop in 2015. Drink 2019-2024.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

We visited Benoît Droin towards the end of the 2015 harvest. “If you had seen me a week ago, straight after the hail, I was on the point of committing suicide, but actually things have turned out much better than we feared,” he told us. Yields were of course affected in several vineyards but the wines across the board are extremely fine. The proportion of wood used reflects the style rather than the seniority of each cuvée.

A brilliant, clear colour, this has a very sensual nose of white flowers and fruit. There is a really gracious texture here with the usual Preuses cashmere coating. It’s fully ripe but not heavy, a beauty. There is great energy behind, but with distinction rather than brute force. Drink 2022-2028.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine buyer

In common with most of his colleagues, Didier Séguier was ready to harvest in early September; starting on Thursday 3rd with the vineyards which had been hit by the hail storm earlier in the week. The damage was to volume rather than quality and certainly just from tasting it was not possible to see where the hail had fallen. These are powerful wines which have nonetheless retained the qualities of classic Chablis.

From the steepest part of the vineyard, this has a little light primrose colour and a glorious, magisterial bouquet. With some fresh lemon notes, there is huge weight to this, opening out to a really sumptuous succulent finish – and just a touch of youthful bitterness to drive the saliva. Some tannins at the back add to the concentration, fabulous dry extract. Hugely impressive, this is perhaps the Chablis of the vintage. Drink 2022-2035.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

In common with most of his colleagues, Didier Séguier was ready to harvest in early September; starting on Thursday 3rd with the vineyards which had been hit by the hail storm earlier in the week. The damage was to volume rather than quality and certainly just from tasting it was not possible to see where the hail had fallen. These are powerful wines which have nonetheless retained the qualities of classic Chablis.

A beautiful, very pale primrose, the nose is classy, showing the oak a bit at first, but then the noble fruit emerges. There is huge volume here, ultra-concentrated white fruit (maybe white-fleshed peaches), a touch of wood and then the spice of ripeness without undue weight. This is very impressive but Bougerots maybe wins this year. Drink 2022-2032.
Jasper Morris MW, Wine Buyer

In common with most of his colleagues, Didier Séguier was ready to harvest in early September; starting on Thursday 3^rd with the vineyards which had been hit by the hail storm earlier in the week. The damage was to volume rather than quality and certainly just from tasting it was not possible to see where the hail had fallen. These are powerful wines which have nonetheless retained the qualities of classic Chablis.

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