One of the highlights of this week was a Chablis tasting that some of the winemaker’s and I did. I personally LOVE Chablis because it is a great pure expression of what the Chardonnay grape can be without the oak and butter that is so prevalent in more modern styles. Anytime I can taste the fruit I’m excited! Here’s the run down!
Domaine William Fevre Chablis 2008
Stone and Chalk
Pale lemon core with moderately low intensity aromas of chalk, citrus, and flint. Dry palate with high searing acid and moderate alcohol. Low skin tannins with moderately intense flavors of lees, light toast, citrus, and wet chalk. Moderate finish.
For $ 24.99 not a bad bottle of wine. Crisp and refreshing.
Domaine William Fevre “Monteé de Tonnerre”Chablis Priemier Cru 2008
Stone and Chalk
Medium low intensity lemon core with moderately intense aromas of citrus, wet chalk, kiwis, and light white flowers. The palate is dry with high acid, moderate alcohol and low skin tannins. Moderate flavors of wet chalk, lees, light white flowers, and citrus were highlighted by a long finish.
$49.99. A really nice Chablis. Very textbook classic.
Domaine William Fevre “Vaillons” Chablis Priemier Cru 2008
Stone and Chalk crossed with Zesty and Fruity
Medium low intensity lemon core with moderately intense aromas of ripe white peach, lemons and light floral notes. The palate is dry with high acid and moderate alcohol. Moderate flavors of white peach, apricot, wet chalk, flint, and light floral notes were highlighted by a long finish.
$44.99. More ripe style than classic Chablis but very enjoyable.
Domaine William Fevre “Les Preuses” Chablis Grand Cru 2008
Stone and Chalk
Medium intenseity lemon core with moderately high intensity aromas of flint, white peach, lemons, chalk, honeydew melon, and wet stone. The palate is dry with high acid and moderate alcohol with a touch of low skin tannin texture on the back of the finish. Moderately intense flavors of wet stone, honeysuckle, lees toast, and flint notes with a long finish.
$79.99. A fantastic Chablis. Classic and fresh which would be great for a special occasion or to age for several years.
Domaine Bernard Defaix “Vaillons” Priemier Cru Chablis 2007
Stone and Chalk
Medium lemon core with moderately intense aromas of lees toast, wet stone, chalk and citrus. The palate is dry with high acid, moderate alcohol and low skin tannins with moderately high intensity flavors of honey, wet stone, lanolin, and lees toast with a long finish.
$26.99. This was a nice wine but it was the least liked of the flights as it seemed a bit older than it should have showing aged notes of honey and Lanolin. I hope it is a bottle variation issue.
Domaine Louis Moreau “Les Clos” Grand Cru Chablis 2007
Stone and Chalk
Medium – intensity gold core with moderate aromas of dried honeycomb, meyer lemons, wet stone, and gunflint. A dry palate accented by high acid, moderate alcohol, and low skin tannins. The flavors were moderately high intensity with flavors of dried lemons, honeycombs, wet stone, and gunflint with a light floral overtone and a long finish.
$46.99. Excellent Quality Chablis with really nice intensity and complexity of flavors.
Jean-Marc Brocard “Les Clos” Grand Cru Chablis 1992
Stone and Chalk leaning towards Elegant and Floral
Medium + intensity gold core with Moderately high intensity aromas of dried white tea leaves, honeycomb, lanolin, dried lemons, and wet stone. The palate is dry with high acid, medium alcohol, and low tannins with high intensity flavors of dried peaches, tea leaves, lanolin, dried lemons, wet river rock, light cardamom, and nutmeg with a long finish.
A steal at $39.95. Fantastic wine with very intense characters. Drink now. This wine, if you can find it, is a great example of an aged Chablis and one that I’d love to find again.
This was truly a wonderful experience and one that really demonstrated the different quality levels of Chablis (even though we were unable to find a Petit Chablis). It was also a great conversation starter with many of the different flavors being discussed by all involved.
