En Primeur | Spotlight on Chablis
Chablis is all about bright fresh minerality. Situated at the northern limits of Burgundy, the combination of a slightly cooler microclimate and grey marl limestone soils make it the perfect destination to reflect the vivid purity of bright Chardonnay fruit at its very best. We are proud to work with five of the very best producers in the appellation each with their own style to reflect this terroir authenticity. These are some of our picks. We’re limiting purchases to 1 or 2 cases for many wines due to high demand. Please contact your account manager or wine@goedhuis.com to discuss larger quantities.
2021 Chablis Denis Pommier
£95.00 In Bond £130.07 Inc VAT-
Goedhuis, December 2022
100% vinification in stainless steel tank. Crackling, bright and pure, with soft charming white stone fruits, it has a graceful easy flow. Very accessible and so very harmonious. Lovely!
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Burghound, October 2022, Score: 89
There is slightly better aromatic complexity to the cool and admirably pure aromas of green apple, lemon-lime, iodine and ocean spray. The rich and slightly more concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess a bit more refinement on the lingering, balanced and refreshing finale. Worth checking out. Drink 2026+
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Jancis Robinson, January 2023, Score: 16
Creditable Chablis nose with already sufficient fruit weight to enjoy. This is fun and pure! Drink 2023 – 2027
2021 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Billaud-Simon
£204.00 In Bond £260.87 Inc VAT-
Goedhuis, December 2022
Lying to the south-west of the town of Chablis, this fine Premier Cru produces arguably the most floral and graceful wines from the slopes of the appellation. A schistous, mineral scent with lemon sorbet overtones. Bright purity, this has a direct limestone clarity, with a lively noble zest of acidity on the finish.
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Burghound, October 2022, Score: 90-92
A whisper of white pepper lurks in the background of the aromas of oyster shell, citrus and mineral reduction. There is again excellent delineation to the markedly punchy and stony middleweight flavors that possess a cuts-like-a-knife, dry and linear finish. I quite like this this and though it too needs more depth, a few years of keeping should address that. Drink 2026+
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Jasper Morris MW, December 2022, Score: 90-93
Only just finished its malolactic. Pale colour with a green tint. Strict at first but with a surprising wealth of fruit and then back to the clean and clearcut finish. Some ripe fresh apples through the middle, and admirable persistence. Drink from 2024-2027.
2021 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains Jean-Paul Droin
£180.00 In Bond £232.07 Inc VAT-
Goedhuis, December 2022
Neighbouring Premier Cru Vaillons, but the higher proportion of clay in the soil creates a wine which has the perception of more substance, hence Benoit likes to mature 40% of the fruit in cask. A perfume of honeysuckle, quince and yellow fruits. The initial impression is of firmness and appellational tension, with super drive. This is focused and energetic and the return of its quince like flavours at the end brings nothing but happiness. Gorgeous!
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Burghound, October 2022, Score: 89-92
An even more floral-suffused nose speaks of the pretty essence of pear and apple while offering better overall typicity. The palate impression of the middleweight flavors is also plump, round and fleshy with its reasonably persistent, dry and balanced finale that also could use better depth. This attractive effort should be approachable young yet also reward 4 to 7 years of keeping. Drink 2026+
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Jasper Morris MW, December 2022, Score: 91-93
Pale lemon yellow. This is crisp and classy. Vibrant fruit and plenty of it, then a stonier back half to this wine, faintly lemon scented, while that citrus element is ripe. Enjoy the long finish. Drink from 2025-2030.
2021 Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy William Fèvre
£235.00 In Bond £298.07 Inc VAT-
Goedhuis, December 2022
The Fèvre parcel of this left bank Premier Cru sits within the more distinctive sub-climat of Troësmes. The fruit is vinified in stainless steel and then 30% matured in barrel. With an earthy attack, this has a chewy, fruit skin-contact styled texture, tremendous mineral energy and a refreshing line of salinity at the end.
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Burghound, October 2022, Score: 89-92
This is ripe enough to have elusive suggestions of exotic fruit on the white peach, maritime and quinine. There is excellent mid-palate density to the rich, delicious and solidly intense middleweight flavors that conclude in an agreeably dry and again, very saline-suffused finish. This will need to add depth to achieve the upper end of my projected range, but it could well do that. Drink 2026+
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Jasper Morris MW, December 2022, Score: 91-93
William Fevre have just over a hectare consisting of three plots at the Beauroy end of Troëmes, where the grapes need to be picked early. 30% currently under wood after vinification. Very elegant, quite forward as is typical of this terroir, attractively nuanced fruit first, some salinity behind, especially at the finish. Never a blockbuster, but the 2021 Beauroy is fine. Drink from 2025-2029.
2021 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Pinson Frères
£275.00 In Bond £346.07 Inc VAT-
Goedhuis, December 2022
For many this is Chablis’s grandest Grand Cru and the Pinsons have a substantial 2.5 hectare holding. A wine of such structure supports having 20% of the fruit vinified in new oak. Aromatically this is bright and fresh with a fine twist of lemon zest. On the palate it slowly unfolds, from its initial sense of reserve to build in both flavour and structure. Floral, with a sensation of spring air and oyster shell minerality, it is subtle in its intensity and has years of life in it.
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Burghound, October 2022, Score: 92-95
A deft but not invisible application of wood sets off ripe yet cool aromas of citrus peel, pear and apple compote along with hints of mineral reduction and oyster shell. There is excellent volume and impressive mid-palate density to the larger-scaled flavors that flash focused power on the youthfully austere and superbly long finale that exhibits a touch of wood. This classy effort is very promising and built to reward extended keeping. Drink 2033+
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Jasper Morris MW, December 2022, Score: 93-95
Paler colour here, and a clearly backward nose. Not that it stuns you with its power from the outset, but there is clearly more to this wine – which was properly protected from the frost, with only the upper section suffering. All in white fruit, a little tension, some marine qualities, discreet and quite long. Lovely salinity to finish. Drink from 2027-2035.
