These are steely, clean and lean whites with aromas of green apples and lemon, intended for early drinking. The next tier – accounting for most of the region’s output – is labelled simply as “Chablis”. These are structured wines with the capacity to age for 10 to 15 years. Whether floral or more mineral, the best examples are seriously impressive and represent the hallmark style of the region – they can also offer real value for money. Style and quality can vary, depending on the climat and the producer. For something more classically “Chablis”, there’s the Premiers Crus. As a result, its flavour profile is perhaps more comparable to the Côte d’Or than the rest of Chablis. Unlike the other tiers, it’s not uncommon for Grand Cru Chablis to see new oak. Over time, their colour evolves from greenish gold to a light yellow, and they develop real aromatic complexity. The best examples can age for up to 20 years. The wines are deep and powerful, benefitting hugely from bottle age after release. These are sunny sites, ranging in elevation from 100 to 250 metres above sea level. The Grand Cru vineyards rise above the eponymous town in an impressive sweep, sloping south.

Grand Cru represents the top tier, although it accounts for just one per cent of overall Chablis production. For many, the classic aroma and flavour profile of Chablis is built around seashell and an iodine, marine character imparted by the soil.Īs elsewhere in Burgundy, there’s a hierarchy in Chablis. In the heart of Chablis, the soils are marl (clay-limestone) of a particular kind – Kimmeridgian – containing traces of marine fossils. The Chablis region is an island of vines lying amid the forests and pastures of the Yonne département. The wines here – exclusively whites from Chardonnay – differ in style from other white Burgundies: they tend towards steeliness and flintiness. Chablis lies further north than the rest of Burgundy, located about halfway between Beaune and Paris it’s actually not all that far from Champagne.

Chablis wine 2019