The Burgundy en primeur season is upon us and it is often easy to forget the delights of the great wines of Chablis. The Côte d’Or tends to be the talk of the town, but for great white wine with drive, energy and longevity, there are few areas to equal Chablis and its premier and grand cru vineyards.
150 km north-west of Dijon, its cooler location and famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils were ideally suited for the warmer climatic conditions of the 2015 summer. Where the 2014s had great bite and drive, the 2015 vintage offers a fabulous contrast. The wines have a breadth and fullness to them. This richness is noticeably apparent in the grand cru wines, which nevertheless never lose their fine undercurrent of freshness, the very hallmark of this famous region.
We are offering four of the very finest domaines in the appellation. Volumes are slightly lower than expected as the harsh frost in 2016 wiped out so many vineyards and growers have had to be prudent, fully aware that they will have next to no crop to sell from the 2016 vintage. They have held back a small volume to allow themselves to sell some wine in 2018, hence the reductions seen across the 2015s. So for Chablis drinkers, with most of the 2014s long sold out, this would be a judicious time to stock up before a dearth of your favourite region’s wines appears. In simple terms, 2015 can be described as a full and concentrated vintage, and whilst arguably they may age a little ahead of the 2014s, they certainly have the necessary intensity to guarantee a long life ahead.
DOMAINE POMMIER Chablis
Domaine Pommier has experienced a meteoric rise since its humble beginnings when Isabelle and Denis took over the 2 hectares of family land back in 1990. Based in Poinchy, today they boast 18 hectares of fabulous vineyards; such a success could not have happened to two nicer people. Extraordinarily humble, always gracious and smiling, contentment flows through into their wines. There is nothing forced in these wines which tend to have a more forward, generous character in contrast to certain other domaines with a more driven, mineral style of wine. 2015 favours their style and is a triumph at Domaine Pommier.
Domaine Pommier
Chablis 2015
£140.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
Brilliant bright citrus lime colour, this starts with aromas of lemon sherbets and fresh melons. In the palate it has a gentle harmonious style, balancing clean Chardonnay fruit with a subtle freshness and a gentle easy finish. Drink 2017 – 2021
Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Troesmes 2015
£190.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
Whilst not the easiest premier cru to pronounce, the mid-slope position of this vineyard is considered the best location within the more recognised Beauroy Premier Cru, so from 2014 Isabelle and Denis have renamed their wine under its true lieu dit title. This is a very attractive wine focusing on citrus fruits, sherbet lemon and clementines. Harmonious and mellow and very moreish on the finish. Drink 2017 – 2023
Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet
£190.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
Gentle aromas of clementines and kiwi, with hints of Granny Smith apple. A wine of generosity and volume, supported by its floral honeysuckle nature. The elegance of fruit marries beautifully with the tightly woven bright Chablisien freshness on the finish. A lovely premier cru. Drink 2017 – 2023
Domaine Pinson Freres
Chablis 1er Cru Montmain 2015
£195.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
The slightly more humid location and the higher clay content of the Montmains soil were a distinct advantage in this vintage, according to Laurent. It meant the soil had good water reserves and the vineyard remained cool on the hotter days of June and July. There is a wonderful balance between fresh lemon sherbet and white fruits. Surprisingly subtle, with a real elegance on the long and persistent finish. A delight. Drink 2017 – 2022
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2015
£195.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
The Pinson Fourchaume doesn’t see any oak, since in Laurent’s view the warmer location of this vineyard doesn’t lend itself to oak élevage. The ripeness of the fruit is apparent in this wine; it is a full and abundant style with hints of acacia honey and light unsalted butter. Broad and complete, whilst remaining fresh. Drink 2018 – 2023
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2015
£195.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
Laurent vinifies 15% of the fruit in oak casks and then the assembled cuvée goes through a barrel élevage for eleven months in 2-8 year old casks. A creamy nutty wine, highlighting the excellent exposition of this premier cru vineyard. There is superb weight and volume, with lovely hazelnut characteristics on the finish. A wine with great density. 2018 – 2024
Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2015
£350.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
A superbly concentrated and intense Grand Cru. This is a wine of beautiful purity that balances limey citrus fruit with hints of creamy Chardonnay flavours. Floral and intense and hugely layered, this is high class in every way. Drink 2018 – 2027
Domaine Billaud-Simon
Chablis 2015
£70.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond | £99.00 per 6 Bottles inc VAT (Available now)
Shimmering lime colour. A beautifully approachable style with hints of lemon sherbet. This is a bright zestful wine with a fine clarity of fruit and an abundant appealing finish. Drink 2017 – 2020
Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons 2015
£105.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
Always the most floral and perfumed of the left bank Chablis premiers crus, Vaillons is a favourite of mine. With notes of white peaches, this 2015 shows its immediate charms for earlier drinking. It is a wine of huge class, with a lovely mineral bite on the finish. Drink 2017 – 2021
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Billaud-Simon 2015
£130.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
One of Chablis’s most prestigious premiers crus, the high proportion of red clay in the soil provides for an earthy texture with layered complexity. Golden yellow in colour, this 2015 has a more substantial ripe fruit nose with hints of guava and melon. In the mouth it is broad and fleshy, intense and long. Drink 2018 – 2023
Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2015
£135.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
Arguably this is the most complex of the premier cru vineyards, being the closest in proximity to the grand cru sites of Blanchots and Les Clos. At this early stage it was quite reserved, but its layered minerality and brooding nature will show how great Chablis evolves with age. Drink 2018 – 2023
Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2015
£240.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
Despite its sheltered location, Vaudesir always preserves a line of minerality which provides wonderful poise in a warmer vintage like 2015. The vibrant citrus characters are balanced with hints of hazelnuts and phenolic extract. There is no shortage of power here, with real grand cru dimensions. Drink 2018 – 2026
Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2015
£240.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
The most north westerly of the Chablis grands crus, this is a very approachable wine with pure flavours of lemon zest. The natural richness of the vintage is balanced by a long and defined linear drive. Very appealing and likely to develop earliest of the grand cru. Drink 2018 – 2025
Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin
Chablis 2015
£165.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
This village wine from Benoit Droin is quite simply benchmark AC Chablis. Full of lemon zest and with subtle clementine undertones. This balances a beautiful creamy harmony with bite, drive and energy. Not a wine for the long term but already an absolute delight. Drink 2017 – 2020.
Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2015
£270.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
This fine premier cru is testament to the wisdom of Benoit’s decision to harvest early in 2015. An appealing balance between soft honeyed fruit and zesty, vibrant minerality. An earlier drinking style with real charm. Drink 2017 – 2023
Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2015
£295.00 per 12 Bottles In Bond
Initially a little reserved this is nevertheless a wine of intensity and concentration. It has a rich earthy Chablisien texture, very good length and lots of potential. Drink 2018 – 2023
Chablis Grand Cru Grenouille 2015
£250.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond (limited)
An exquisitely harmonious grand cru, though not as bold in style as in some years from the Droin stable. This relative restraint is most definitely to its advantage in 2015, with layers of white peach and hints of kiwi. A high class wine full of subtlety and refinement, persistent and nuanced on the finish. Lovely. Drink 2018 – 2026
Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2015
£250.00 per 6 Bottles In Bond
A gloriously explosive wine in contrast to the Grenouille. This is full of rich fresh clotted cream and toffee notes. A full and mouth-filling style, with hints of honey and spice. Long and powerful at the end. Drink 2018 – 2026
EN PRIMEUR TERMS & CONDITIONS
This wine is offered In Bond UK and subject to confirmation. We will arrange shipment in Autumn 2017. On arrival, wine can either be delivered directly to you or stored Under Bond by our independent storage company, Private Reserves, at a current cost of £10.50 ex-VAT per case or £5.25 ex-VAT per 6 pack per annum. If and when you decide to take delivery, Duty and VAT at the prevailing rate will become payable. These charges are at present £24.60 per dozen and 20% respectively.
All En Primeur deliveries will be charged at cost. Payment must be made within 30 days of invoice date.