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Chablis
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Buying Guide: Grand Cru ChablisThe characteristics of a Chablis Grand Cru will be similar to those of a Premier Cru, but to a much greater degree. They are the richest, boldest, most complex wines of the region, and they are also by far the most rewarding given ample time in the cellar.
Coming exclusively from the right bank of the Serein, the Grand Cru vineyards of this Burgundian region make up an ensemble of only 240 acres (accounting for just three percent of Chablis' total production). Coupled with the fact that grape yields are also much lower for Grand Crus than for other Chablis sites, the wines are relatively scarce and command pretty high prices. But wine lovers the world over are willing to pay for these kings of the appellation, which are always well formed and complete with an affirmed character that is only enhanced with time.
Chablis Grand Cru consists of just seven precious vineyards: Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur and Vaudésirs. Many of the top Chablis producers own parcels in several of the vineyards, including La Chablisienne, who harvests and vinifies six of the seven Grands Crus. Each of them is known to have its own different personality: Bougros, lively and mineral; Les Preuses, with breed and length; Vaudésir, fleshy and big; Les Clos, dry and mineral; Blanchot, supple and aromatic; Grenouilles, elegant and fruity. All rich and generous, harmonious and full bodied, they have to be cellared for at the very least five years to express all their greatness. A better estimation, in the very good to great vintages, would be at least ten to fifteen years before taking the bottle out of the cellar.
ServingWhen mature, Grand Cru Chablis should be served between 10°C and 12°C (49°F- 53°F). It is better not to chill it as much as a regular Chablis, which one would typically want to serve a few degrees colder. Chilling a Grand Cru too much can mute the rich, generous flavors that they promise. There is no better companion to seafood than a Grand Cru, but they also have an affinity with soft, rich cheeses such as goat cheese. White meats both grilled and in cream sauces can also be good pairings, and, with a well aged bottle, tender red meats, such as veal.
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Recommended Chablis Grand CruWilliam Fèvre Les Clos Grand Cru Chardonnay Chablis $95
Tasting Notes: The bouquet of this wine is remarkably complex, a burst of fruit, flowers and spice comes forth and then a substantial touch of mineral. Powdered stone, lemon, lime, and white flowers. Powerful and generous. Comment: All harvesting is done by hand, and the grapes are pressed only very lightly to capture the finest juice. Matured for 12-15 months in French oak on fine lees. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats | cream sauces When to Drink: Wait at least 5 years before opening, 10 years is even better. Keep for 20 years+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
William Fèvre Valmur Grand Cru Chardonnay Chablis $85
Tasting Notes: Golden green in color, with hints of ginger. Juicy, fruity, sharp, with the characteristic William Fevre wet stone minerality coupled with lime and spice. Comment: This wine is always at the height of Grand Cru elegance, the aromas are detailed and precise, the flavors are tight, and finish long. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats | cream sauces When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep for up to 20 Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
 Chardonnay Chablis $86
Tasting Notes: Aromas of ginger and spice, with smoky mint. Full and rich on the palate, and sometimes with a suggestion of ripe banana. This Grand Cru is typically muscular, powerful and deep. Comment: Matured for 12-15 months in French oak on fine lees, it is a perfect balance of power and precision. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep for up to 20+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F More Recommended Chablis Grand Cru...
 Jean-Marc Brocard Les Clos Grand
Cru Chardonnay Chablis $59
Tasting Notes: Mineral and smoky, with some notes of honey and lemon. Full-bodied, with layers of rich flavors, and a long finish on the palate. Comment: This wine in vinified in 100% steel, no oak. This is an ultra high-tech Chablis, complete with machine harvesting and computerized vinification. It is also among the most affordable of the Grand Crus. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats | veal When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep for up to 15 Service Temperature: 12°C | 53°F
 Domaine Laroche Réserve de
l'Obédience Les Blanchots Grand Cru Chardonnay Chablis $100
Tasting Notes: Sublimely buttery and deep, the fruit aromas are sharp, rich, and complex. Comment: With this wine, Laroche spares no expense to bring forth the best grapes. All of the harvesting is meticulously done by hand. After fermentation, it is Given 9 months maturation, 70% of the harvest in oak and 30% of the harvest in stainless steel. This wine is a prime example of how a winemaker may utilize complementary methods of maturation to bring out the very best in a terroir. Food
Pairing: aperitif
| shellfish | grilled fish | white meats When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep up to 20+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
Tasting Notes: Vibrant golden green, and intense on the nose with aromas of apple blossom and honey. Subtle notes of anise and lemon follow through and long and satisfying finish. Comment: A prototypically structured Grand Cru. Receives 9 months maturation, with 30% of the harvest in oak and 70% of the harvest in stainless steel—a foil to Laroche's Reserve de l'Obedience release. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep for up to 20+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
 La Chablisienne Château
Grenouilles Grand Cru Chardonnay Chablis $90
Tasting Notes: Bright and clear, pale gold yellow with a healthy dose of vanilla and spice. Voluminous in the mouth, tremendously concentrated and lively. Comment: From vines averaging 40 years in age, Grenouilles is made from selected sections carrying the oldest plantings in the vineyard. It is aged for 20 months on fine lees. Both oak and stainless steel are used, in differing amounts depending upon the vintage. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats When to Drink: Drink after 10 years, keep for 20+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
 La Chablisienne Les Preuses Grand
Cru Chardonnay Chablis $60
Tasting Notes: Pale straw yellow, dense with a bouquet of white flowers, citrus, almonds, and vanilla. The minerality brings a bright freshness in the mouth, bound together in a tight-grained finish. Stunningly complex and greatly rewards proper aging. Comment: The vines for this release average in age about 30 years, and it is also aged for 20 months on fine lees in both oak barrels and steel vats. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats When to Drink: Drink after 10 years, keep for 20+ Service Temperature: 13°C | 55°F
 Albert Bichot Domaine
Long-Depaquit Moutonne Grand Cru Chardonnay Chablis $97
Tasting Notes: Full golden green in color, with a complex minerality on top of notes of honey and lime. Intense, generous, and full in body. Comment: La Moutonne is actually a 10 acre area of the Chablis Grand Cru which includes parts of both Les Preuses and Les Vaudesirs. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand and then vinified with 25% oak and 75% stainless steel. The two batches are matured separately for 1 year and then blended before bottling. Food Pairing: aperitif | shellfish | grilled fish | white meats | veal | truffles When to Drink: Drink after 5 years, keep for up to 20 Service Temperature: 11°C | 52°F
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