🇫🇷BURGUNDY–Chablis

CHABLIS IS–   AOC.’s- 11     ~Grand Cru~ 8     ~Premier Cru~ 39     @Chablis

  • BLANC= Chardonna 71%, Aligoté, Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Beurot AKA=Pinot Gri, Roublot, Sacy, Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cesar, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tressot

GEOGRAPHY– France(East-Central), REGION-Bourgogne-Franche-Comte(North)

  • SUB-REGION-Chablis, DEPARTMENT-Yonne
  • North-West of Burgundy(130km.), South-East of Champagne(25km.)
  • @Hw.#D965/ D91, LATITUDE: 47.8° ‘N’
  • ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS– Jovinien, Auserre, Auxerrois Vezelien, Tonnerrois
  • VILLAGES-Beine, Chablis, La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne, Chemilly-sur-Serein, Chichee, Courgis, Fye, Lignorelles, Ligny-le-Chatel, Maligny, Poilly-sur-Serein, Prehy, Viviers

TOPOGRAPHY– FEATURES- “Rolling/ Hilly/ Valley(Serein), Basin(Paris)”

  • SLOPES/ Morvan Hills, +Alt. 120mt. to 238mt. (Peak to 345mt.)
  • On~Serein~Tributary~Yonne~River~(to North Sea)
  • Separated From Cote d’Or by Morvan Hills.

TOPOGRAPHIC EVENTS- Chablis Sits In the Middle of the Paris Basin and Historically Was Under Warm Shallow Seas of the Once Jurassic Sea Bed 150 Million Years Ago.

  • Kimmeridgian Era Formation- Formed During Mesozoic Period.
    • Older Than Portandian…150-157 Million Years Old.
    • Higher In Clay and Limestone. (Exogyra Virgula/ Small Oyster Fossils)
    • ~Etymology~ “Kimmeridge”
      • Named of a Village In Dorest, England Where the Limestone Formation Begins.
  • Portlandian Era Formation- Formed During Cretaceous Period.
    • Younger Era Than Kimmeridgian, Lower In Clay.
    • ~Etymology~ “Portland”
      • Named of a Island In the English Channel Where the Limestone Formation Begins.

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”

  • Calcareous Clay, Marine Fossilized Shells, Chalky, Light Clay Marl
  • Kimmeridgian Marl Based, Ferrous Clay, Limestone

CLIMATE– “Continental”, Coolest Growing Area In Burgundy.

  • *Summers– Warm   |   *Winters– Cold, Wet

VITICULTURE–  6,6000 ha./ 4,800 ha. Planted,  Chablis is 1.5% of France Production.

  • Chablis harvest Are Traditionally a Little Later Than Its Regions In Southern Burgundy.
  • CHALLENGES– Spring/Fall Frost, Hail, Rain, Cold, Unwanted Botrytis
  • Great Vintage Years- 2017, 2014, 2012, 2010, 1990, 1983

VINICULTURE–

  • CHABLIS STYLE EVALUATION
    • Sight: Pale Straw/  Dry, Fresh
    • Aroma: Granny Smith Apple, Lemon, Flinty Minerality
    • Palate: +BODY
    • Structure: Medi+Acid, Less Fruity
  • ASSOCIATIONS~ ~Chablis Commission of the Burgundy Wine Board~ BIVB.
  • VINICULUTRE–  *Generally– One of the Purest Expressions of the Chardonnay Grape.
    • Fermented In Stainless Steal, Barrel Maturation In Old Oak-Feiullette.(500 L.)
    • *Generally Not Put Through Malolactic Conversion, Sur-Lee Aging On Fine Lees.
    • Limited or No Oak Expression,  Grand Cru/ Premier Cru Likely to See Slight Oak.
    • +AGED/ 3- 15 Years
    • Some Use of “Nobel Reduction” In Winemaking Style.
    • LABELING– Sometimes Producers Use Name of Domaine and/ or Family Name On Label.
      • **Bottles Labeled Chablis Are General  Wine Produced In Region Non-Conforming to an AOC.
    • **Refer to “Burgundy/ Regional Appellations” For General Growing Information.

HISTORY– 2,000 Year Wine History

  • 276  @Chablis– Probus Allowed Vines to Be Planted In the Area Again
  • 510  @Chablis– First Mention of the Village of Chablis.
  • 1568 @Chablis– Chablis Was Burned Down by the Huguenots.
  • 1908 @Chablis– Formation of the Union des Proprietaires Vignerons de Chablis.
  • 1918 @Chablis– Production Effected by World War I.
  • 1919 @Chablis– Grand Cru Vineyards Delimitated.
  • 1938 @Chablis– Become an Official AOC..
  • 1941-1941 @Chablis– Production Effected by World War II.
  • 1953 @Chablis– Vineyard Area Expanded to 500 ha.
  • 1919 @Chablis–  Premier Cru Vineyards Delimitated.
  • 1978 @Chablis–  Expansion of Vineyards.
  • 2003 @Chablis– Expansion of Vineyards.

CULTURE–

  • “Monks & Monasteries” ~Pontigny~  Cistercian Abbey of 1300’s
    • Thought to Be the First to Plant Chardonnay Grapes In the Area.
  • WINE TRAIL~ ~Touristique du Vignoble~
  • GASTRONOMY…
    • CHEESE… Cantal(Cow/ Hard),  Forum d’Ambert(Cow/ Semi-Soft)

CLASSIFICATION Of CHABLIS APPELLATIONS

  • Grand Cru- (7) ? % of Chablis Production 100 ha. Planted
  • Premier Cru- (40) ? % of Chablis Production 750 ha. Planted
  • Village- AOC. (  ) ? % of Chablis Production (Petit Chablis & Chablis)
  • Regional- AOC. (  ) ?  % of Chablis Production 2,860 ha. Planted
  • Chablis 4 Tier Quality Classification
    • Hierarchy Based On the Quality of the Vineyard Site and the Overall Terroir.
    • –Chablis– Vineyards In Designated Area Around Chablis Town and Its Villages.
  • WINE PHILOSOPHY? “Is it More Accurate to Put Chablis Into the Champagne or Loire Region of France Rather Than In Burgundy?”
    • “Due to Its Northern Location, Topography, Similar Soils and Climates Chablis Should Be Considered Part of Champagne? (Does Chablis Produce the Still Whites of Champagne?)”

**Refer to “BURGUNDY/ Home” For Detailed Information On Burgundy as a Region.

**Chablis Wine Map Images Courtesy of Delong Maps, Purchase Maps at Delongwine.com

CHABLIS GRAND CRU    @Tonnerre

  • BLANC= Chardonnay   |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), COMMUNES-Chablis, HAMLETS-Fye, Poinchy
    • Vineyards Over Looking the Town of Chablis.
    • Grand Cru- Bougros, Les Blanchot, Les Clos, Grenouilles, La Moutonne, Les Preuses, Valmar,  Vaudesir
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Morvan Hills, +Alt. ?, South/ South-West Facing Slopes
    • On~Serein~River~
  • SOILS- “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian Marl Based, Ferrous Clay, Limestone
  • VITICULTURE- 105.79ha. Planted,   ~Grand Cru~ 7
  • Bougros~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy, Chablis, North-West Section of Grand Cru-Slope
      • Cote Bouguerots Sub-Climat
    • TOPOGRAPHY– “Hilly”, On~Serein~River~
    • VITICULTURE- 15.79ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Drouhin-Vaudon, Jean-Louis Mothe, Jean-Marc Brocard, Maison Dampt, Vauroux, Verget, William Fevre
      • Vineyard/ Block- Cote de Bouguerots
  • Les Preuses~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy, Chablis, North Section of Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY– “Hilly”, On~Serein~River~(East), +Alt.
    • VITICULTURE- 11.43ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Billaud-Simon, Chablisienne, Chanson, Jean et Sebastien, Nathalie & Gilles Fevre, Rene et Vincent, Servin, Vincent Dauvissat, William Fevre
  • Vaudesir~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy, Chablis, North/ Top Section of Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”
    • VITICULTURE- 14.49ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Albert Bichot, Bernard Defaix, Billaud-Simon, Olivier, Leflaive, Louis Moreau, Malandes, William Fevre
  • Grenouilles~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy, Chablis, Central/ Lower Section of Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”
    • VITICULTURE- 9.38ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- (Co.-Op.), Albert Pic, Chablisienne, Patrick Piuze, Testut
  • Valmur~Grand Cru–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy(North), Chablis, Central Section Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”, Small Valley Within the Slope.
    • VITICULTURE- 11.04ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Christian Moreau, Collet Père et Fils, Jean-Claude Bessin, Jean-Oayk & Benoit Droin, Moreau & Fils
  • Les Clos~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy(North), Chablis, Southern Section of Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”
    • VITICULTURE- 28.39ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Christian Moreau(2.9ha.), Francois Raveneau, Laroche, Pinson Frères, Raveneau, Rene, Simonnet-Febvre, Vincent Dauvissat, William Fevre(4ha.)
  • Les Blanchot~Grand Cru~
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy(North), Chablis, Southern Section of Grand Cru-Slope
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”
    • VITICULTURE- 12.39ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Albert Bichot(Long-Depaquit), Billaud-Simon, Jean-Marc Brocard, Jean-Paul et Benoit Droin,Laroche, Long-Depaquit
  • La Moutonne~Grand Cru~ (Un-Oficial)
    • GEOGRAPHY- Burgundy(North), Chablis
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hilly”, Amphitheater Within Slope, In Vaudesir
    • VITICULTURE- 2.5ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Albert Bichot(Long-Depaquit)“Monopole”

CHABLIS PREMIER CRU AOC.     @Chabis

  • BLANC= Chardonnay   |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis, “Non-Contiguous(?)”
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Serein~River~
  • SOILS- “Sedimentary”, Generally Kimmeridgian Marl Based Soils.
  • VITICULTURE- 780 ha Planted
      • 17 Main Premier Crus, 40 Recognized Climates, 70 Lieux-Dits
    • Right Bank Premier Cru–
    • Berdiot,  Cote de Vaubarousse,  Fourchaume(34ha.)Climat…Cote de Fontenay, Vaupulent, L’Homme Mort),  Les Fourneaux(Climat…Morein),  Mont de Milieu,  Montee de Tonnerre(Climat…Chapelot, Cote de Brechain, Pied d’Aloup),  Vaucoupin
    • Left Bank Primier Cru–
    • Beauroy(Climat…Cote de Savant, Troesmes),  Chaume de Talvat,  Cote de Lechet,  Cote de Jouan,  Les Beauregards(Climat…Cote de Cuissy),  Montmains(Climat…Butteaux, Forets, Vaux Miolot),  Vau de Vey(Climat…Vaux Ramon’s),  Vaillons(Climat…Beugnons, Chatains, Les Epinottes, Les Lys, Melinots, Roncieres, Secher), Vosgros(Climat…Vaugiraut), Vau Ligneau
    • Other Premier Cru Climats– Berdiot, Chaume Talvat, Cote Jouan, Cote Lechet(50ha.), Cote de Vaubarousse, Cote Pres-Girot, Les Beauregards, Les Fourneaux, Mont de Milieu, Montee Tonnerre, Montmain,, Vau de Vey, Vau Linnaeus, Vaudevey, Vosgros
  • VINICULTURE-
    • Estate/ Producers– Albert Bichot(Long-Depaquit), Albert Pic, De Beru(8ha.), Billaud-Simon, La Chablisienne, Celine & Frederic Gueguen, Charlene & Laurent Pinson, Claude Courtault, La Cote, D-E Defaix, Fevre-Fevre, Francois Raveneau, Gerard Duplessis, Gullianume Wrignaud, Jean-Louis Mothe, Jean-Marc Brocard, Laroche, Lavantureux, Lousi Michel, Malandes(28ha.), De la Mandeliere, La Meuliere, Morein, Moreau-Naudet, La Motte(27ha.), Patrick Piuze, Roland Lavantureux, Samuel Billaud, Seguinot-Bordet, Simonnet-Febvre, Sur la Cote, Vallee de Chigot, Vau Pulan, Vincent Dampt(6ha.), William Fevre(78ha.)

PETIT CHABLIS AOC.     @Petit Chablis

  • BLANC= Chardonnay   |   ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis, “Non-Contiguous(?)”
  • TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. 230mt.-280mt.
    • On~Serein~River~Tributary~Yonne~River~
  • SOILS- “Sedimentary”, Generally Portlandian Marl Based Soils.
  • VITICULTURE- 605 ha. Planted,  Machine Harvest
  • VITICULTURE- Lessor Vineyards In Chablis Not of Chablis, Premier or Grand Cru.
    • Estate/ Producers- Aleth, Billaud-Simon, Christophe et Fils(20ha.), Dauvissat(22ha.), Herve, Isabelle & Denis Pommier(22ha.), Marcel et Blanche, Moreau-Naudet, Pascal Bouchard, Pisse-Loup(14ha.)
  • CULTURE- 1944- AOC. Officially Established.

COTES D’AUXERRE AOC.     @Auxerre

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Aligote, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Roublot  
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir, Cesar
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(South-West), South & East of Auxerre
    • Grand Auxxerois– Old Vines From…Auxerrois, Tonnerrois, Jovinien, Vezelien
    • BORDERS-Coulanges-La-Vineuse AOC.(South)
    • COMMUNES-Augy, Auxerre, Champs-sur-Yonne, Saint-Bris, Queene, Vaux, Vincelottes
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Yonne~River~
  • SOILS- “Sedimentary”, Generally Portlandian Marl Based Soils.
  • VITICULTURE- 210 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Clotilde Davenne

COULANGES-La-VINEUSE AOC.     @Coulanges

  • BLANC= Chardonnay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(South-West)
    • BORDERS-Cotes D’Auxerre AOC.(North)
    • COMMUNES-Coulanges-la-Vineuse, Escolives-Sainte-Camille, Jussy, Mige, Mouffy, Val-de-Mercy
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, +Alt. 90mt.-305mt.
  • VITICULTURE- 57ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Borgnat, Christophe Auguste, Maltoff

BOURGOGNE CHITRY AOC.     @Chitry

  • BLANC= Chardonnay   |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(Central), COMMUNE-Chitry
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”
  • SOILS- “Sedimentary”,  SOIL SERIES– –Kimmeridgian–
  • VITICULTURE- 57 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Maison Simonnet-Febvre

IRANCY AOC.     @Irancy

  • BLANC= Chardonnay 53%    |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir, Cesar(-10%)
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(Central), West of Chablis-City(15km.)
    • VILLAGES-Cravant, Vincelottes
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”,  SOIL SERIES– ~Kimmeridgian~
  • VITICULTURE- 165ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Benoit Cantin, David, Renaud, Thierry Richoux

STAINT-BRIS AOC.     @St. Bris

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Chardonnay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(Central)
    • (Laps)Cotes D’Auxerre AOC., Irancy AOC.
    • COMMUNES-Saint-Bris-le-Vineux, Irancy, Chitry, Vincelottes, Ouenne
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”,
    • SOIL SERIES– ~Kimmeridgian~, ~Portlandian~
  • VITICULTURE- 160 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Bailly-Lapierre(Co.-Op./ +400 Growers), Guilhem Goisot, Petitiean, Pl & JF Bersan, , Severine& Lionel Jacquet, Simonnet-Febvre
    • Vineyards- La Ronce

BOURGOGNE SAINT-JACQUES AOC.     @Joigny

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Pinot Gris   |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(North-West)
    • North-West of Chablis-City(30km.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • VITICULTURE-  ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-

TONNERRE AOC.     @Tonnerrois

  • BLANC= Chardonnay   |   ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(North-West)
    • COMMUNES-Dannemoine, Epineuil, Junay, Molosmes, Tonnerre, Vezinnes
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Armancon~River~
  • VITICULTURE- 240ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- L’Abbaye du Petit Quincy, Vignoble Dampt

EPINEUIL AOC.     @Epineuil

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Pinot Gris   |    ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(North-West), In Tonnerre AOC.(Central)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, +Alt. 180mt.-300mt.
  • VITICULTURE- 57ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Francine et Olivier Savary, Vini Viti Vinci

VEZALAY AOC.     @Vezalay

  • BLANC= Chardonnay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, Burgundy(North), Chablis(South)
    • COMMUNES-Asquins, Saint-Pere, Tharoiseau, Vaezelay
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • VITICULTURE– 57ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Michel& Fils, Boudin, Oudin, Jean-Pierre Grosset

CHATILLONNAIS AOC.     @Chatillon-Sur-Seine

  • BLANC= Chardonnay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Burgundy(North), SUB-REGION-Chablis
    • COMMUNES-Belan-Sur-Ource, Charrey-Sur-Seine, Chatillon-Sur-Seine, Marsingy, Molesmes
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • VITICULTURE- ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-

Indication Geographique Protegee IGP. Chablis

  • BIANC= Any White Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Chablis.
  • ROUGE= Any Red Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Chablis.
  • VITICULTURE– Wine Produced In “Chablis” Non-Conforming to an AOC.

YONNE IGP.

  • BLANC= Chardonna 71%, Aligoté, Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Beurot AKA=Pinot Gri, Roublot, Sacy, Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cesar, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tressot
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Burgundy, SUB-REGION-Chablis, DEPARTMENT-Yonne
  • VINIFICATION- IGP. Used For Wines Not Making AOC. Standards.

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.