Chablis Flashcards
1
Q
Name the 3 AOPs of Chablis
A
Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Chablis Grand Cru—produce only white wines, made exclusively from Chardonnay
2
Q
Chablis lies in which department?
A
Yonne
3
Q
Irancy produces?
A
Rouge:
Principal Variety: Pinot Noir
Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% combined Pinot Gris and César
4
Q
Saint Bris produces?
A
Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris
5
Q
Vézelay produces?
A
Blanc: Chardonnay
6
Q
Yields for Chablis AOPs?
A
Petit Chablis and Chablis: 60 hl/ha
Chablis Premier Cru: 58 hl/ha
Chablis Grand Cru: 54 hl/ha
7
Q
Name the vintages which devastated Chablis vineyards in 1900s
A
1945 and 1956
8
Q
“Kimmeridgian” refers to?
A
An age in the Upper Jurassic Epoch, occurring roughly 150-157 million years ago
consists of crumbly, chalky marl (clay and limestone) and contains abundant Exogyra virgula fossils—the imprints of tiny oyster shells. Outcrops are visible on the hillsides of the Serein River Valley. These hillsides, like those in Kimmeridge, Sancerre, and the Aube, ring the Paris Basin, which sagged under a shallow sea in the Jurassic Period
9
Q
Define Portlandian soils
A
Portlandian limestone, a harder cap rock with less clay content. Portlandian limestone in Chablis lacks the multitudes of fossilized seashells that characterize Kimmeridgian marl, and it is younger, formed 130 million years ago. Portlandian soils—those that overlay Portlandian limestone—are sandier and thinner than Kimmeridgian soils.
10
Q
Name the Grand Crus of Chablis from north to south
A
Bougros (1935)
Les Preuses (1938 last to be added)
Vaudesir
Grenouilles
Valmur
Les Clos
Blanchot
11
Q
Name the eighth climat of Chablis Grand Cru
A
La Moutonne—a monopole of Domaine Long-Depaquit overlapping Vaudésir and Preuses—is permitted by the INAO for usage on labels but not listed as an official geographic designation.) owned by Albert Bichot
12
Q
Minimum potential alcohol levels for Chablis AOPs?
A
Petit Chablis: 9,5%
Chablis: 10%
Chablis Premier Cru: 10,5%
Chablis Grand Cru: 11%
13
Q
Chardonnay is also called?
A
Beaunoise
14
Q
How many are the premier cru vineyards of Chablis?
A
40
15
Q
How many communes are in Chablis?
A
17
16
Q
Name the 17 major premier crus of Chablis
A
Mont de Milieu
Montmains
Montee de Tonnerre
Fourchaume
Les Fourneuax
Vaillons
Vaucoupin
Vau de vey
Vosgros
Vau Ligneau
Beauroy
Cote de Jouan
Cote de Lechet
Berdiot
Les Beauregards
Chaume de Talvat
Cote de Vaubarousse
17
Q
Bourgogne Epineuil AOC produces?
A
reds mainly and rose from Pinot Noir (15% Pinot Gris/Blanc, Chardonnay and Cesar (bijou)
Pinot Gris (rose)
18
Q
Bourgogne Cotes d’Auxerre AOC produces?
A
mainly reds (Pinot Noir)
rose (Pinot Noir and occasionaly Pinot Gris)
Some whites from Chardonnay
19
Q
Bourgogne Tonnerre AOC produces?
A
white wines from Chardonnay
20
Q
Châtillonnais produces?
A
white and rose Cremant de Bourgogne wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay plus small amounts of Gamay and Aligote
21
Q
The cool, northerly location means vineyards are susceptible to spring frosts. Options for
managing this risk are:
A
smudge pots: smoky, causes air pollution, requires staff in the vineyard
* sprinklers (‘aspersion’): this is now the most popular option, though the installation and
maintenance costs mean that it is only a realistic option for vineyards with a good return
on investment (premiers crus, grand cru) or for well-funded companies
* pruning choices: later pruning promotes later bud-burst, reducing the chance of damage
to the new buds from early spring frosts.
22
Q
Name the training systems of Chablis
A
The double Guyot replacement cane training system is typical: if
one cane fails, the other may survive frost. (Taille Chablis, a multi- armed cordon system, is
typical of Champagne, not Chablis.)
23
Q
One third of all wine is vinified by the co-operative ?
A
La Chablisienne
24
Q
A voluntary association to promote the quality of Chablis Grand Cru and therefore limited to those who own grand cru sites is called?
A
L’Union des Grands Crus de Chablis
25
Top premier crus on the right and left bank include?
Montée de Tonnerre and Fourchaume on the right and on the left, Vaillons and Montmains
26
Name the climats of Fourchaume
Côte de Fontenay, L’Homme Mort (north), Vaulorent or Vaupulent
27
Wines from the left bank are more?
floral and less powerful than those from the right bank, with a peachy, Granny Smith apple character, whereas the right bank wines are more powerful with nutty/steely notes
28
Butteaux and Forets lie in which premier cru?
Montmains (Left Bank)
29
Name the premier crus on the right side of the river Serein
Fourchaume
Montée de Tonnerre
Mont de Milieu
Vaucoupin
Les Fourneaux
Cote de Vaubarousse
Berdiot (one of the smallest)
30
Name the premier crus on the left side of the river Serein
Vosgros
Montmains
Cote de Jouan
Vaillons
Côte de Léchet (classic Chablis and includes the unofficial lieux dit called La Chateau)
Vau de Vey
Vau Ligneau (one of the most westermost and is lean and citrusy)
Beauroy
Les Beauregards
31
Name the sole climat of Vosgros that can be classified as premier cru
Vaugiraut
32
Name the climats of Vaillons
Beugnons, Chatains, Les Epinottes, Les Lys, Mélinots, Roncières, Sechet
One of the most interesting Vaillons climats is that of Les Lys which, unusually, faces north on very steep slopes. As a result, the wines are taut, cool, precise and worth knowing in a hot vintage
is always more mineral, more delicate like lace, with a floral touch.’
33
Chablis Grand Cru faces?
south-west
34
Grand Crus were classified in?
1935 with Bougros and Les Preuses to be added in 1938
35
Describe the style of Bougros
The style of a regular Bougros is big, fat, soft and round though the wines from the steeper sectot are more mineral e.g William Fevre's Cote de Bougerots
The wines made from this vineyard are quite rounded and less austere than those from the other Chablis Grand Cru climats. Solid but elegant, they tend to be more accessible when young.
36
Name some top producers from Bougros
William Fevre (biggest landholder 4ha)
Patrik Piuze
Jean Marc Brocard
Chablisienne
Domaine Long Depaquit
Domaine Laroch
Billaud Simon
Domaine Roy
37
Describe the style of Les Preuses
The signature of Les Preuses is flesh without heaviness.
The wines are not usually aromatic but they age well.
According P. Piuze this is the finest site of all.
There is a small sector which is part of the Vaudesir amphitheatre - a very steep south facing slope which retains the heat. Dauvissat and Drouhin-Vaudon have holdings there
38
Name the top producers for Les Preuses
VINCENT DAUVISSAT
Patrick Piuze
Willima Fevre (biggest landholder)
Billaud-Simon
La Chablisienne
Jean Marc Brocard
Domaine Roy
39
Describe the style of Vaudesir
Vaudésir wines tend to be softer and more elegant than other Grand Crus, with floral characters rounding out Chablis' iconic minerality.
The vineyard is shaped like an amphitheatre, and is cut through by a track known as the "Chemin des Vaudésirs", giving it a double orientation.
Half of its vines face due south, with the remainder facing southwest. This topography helps to distinguish Vaudésir from other vineyard sites, as the steep slopes provide some protection from northerly winds and vines instead benefit from good exposure to sunlight.
Indeed, much like its southerly neighbour Valmur, the valley can become something of a heat trap in summer
Combiness exceptional richness of fruit with incredible mineral backbone
40
Name the top producers from Vaudesir
Long-Depaquit (biggest landholder)
Louis Michel
Billaud-Simon
Christian Moreau
Raoul Gautherin
Domaine Vocoret
La Chablisienne
Jean Paul Benoit Drouhin
Domaine de l'Enclos
41
Describe the style of Grenouilles
(is the smallest 9.4 ha) three-quarters of which is owned by the La Chablisienne co-operative which makes a wine from old vines at the heartland of the cru bottles under Chateau de Grenouilles.
The southern exposure of the Grenouilles site leads to perceptibly riper flavors in its Chardonnay-based wines, which are associated with stonefruit, orange peel and honey. Softer and more open in their youth than those from the other climats, they can also vary considerably with age, sometimes showing power and sometimes delicate balance.
Wines from the plateau are richer and headier than the more mineral wines on the steeper slopes.
42
Name the top producers of Grenouilles
La Chablisienne
Louis Michel
Raoul Gautherin
J-P Benoit Drouhin
Domaine Testut
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Patrick Piuze
Maison Regnard
43
Describe the style of Valmur
Both south and north facing steep sided valley
While the valley itself becomes something of a heat-trap in summer, on its southern side the vines are in shade for a longer portion of the day, slowing ripening and leading to retention of crisp acidity in the grapes.
Big, monolithic wines steely, powerful wines made for ageing.
There is more clay in the soil than Vaudesir and the wines are less aromatic with noticable heft. Also blue and white marl with Kimmeridgian fossils.
They have the richness and weight of a Cote d'Or wine rather than a Chablis
44
Name the top producers of Valmur
Francois Raveneau
Christiean Moreau (has 78year old vines)
Vocoret
JP Benoit Drouhin
William Fevre
Jean Collet
Patrick Piuze
Jean Marc Brocard
Guy Robin (biggest landholder)
45
Describe the style of Les Clos
Les Clos is the largest, most widely known and south-west facing site and one the most consistent wines.
Are generally more powerful and intense than even the other Grand Crus, and are often associated with ripe stonefruit, orange peel and honey. With a tendency to be more closed in their youth than those from the other climats, they are famous for their long-term aging potential, showing a balance between power and finesse.
46
Name the top producers of Les Clos
Francois Raveneau (mid slope)
V. Dauvissat
William Fevre (biggest landholder mainly upper slope with vines since 1947 and 1952)
Christian Moreau (covers 3 ha, bottom 35y, mid 65y and upper 50y picked separately)
Billaud Simon (upper part)
Louis Moreau
JP Benoit Drouhin
Louis Michel
Patrick Piuze
JM Brocard
Raoul Gautherin
Vocoret
Chablisienne
47
Describe the style of Blanchot(s)
faces southeast rather than southwest, giving it more protection from the intense afternoon sunshine. Instead, exposure to the gentle morning sun makes for a much slower ripening period for the grapes, which develop less-pronounced fruit flavors and retain more acidity.
This cooler mesoclimate means that the Blanchot climat is often the last of the Grand Cru vineyards to be harvested, often producing wines of great finesse and delicacy rather than power and more approachable when young.
towards the hamlet of Fyé. On the opposite side of the valley lies the Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru climat.
cooler, crisper flavors of lime and grapefruit.
Steep slope on white soils
48
Name the top producers of Blanchot
Francois Raveneau (upper part)
Domaine Laroche (biggest landholder produces Reserve de la Obedienserie an oak aged wine)
Patrick Piuze
Vocoret
JP Benoit Drouhin
Christian Moreau
Long Depaquit
Billaud Simon
JM Brocard
Domaine de l'Enclos
Louis Moreau
49
Describe the style of La Moutonne
a single vineyard (2.35ha) esseantially within Vaudesir (95%) but stretching to Les Preuses
La Moutonne faces predominantly south, although the gentle curve of the hillside means that some of the vines face to the southeast. This, coupled with a relatively steep gradient (which increases sunlight exposure and drainage), means that La Moutonne has a warmer mesoclimate than vineyards lower down. It also enjoys shelter from the cold, biting winds which sometimes blow in from the north.
50
Describe Butteaux's style and some top producers
Being at the south-western tip of Montmains it is a sunny side and gives ripe and powerfull wines.
Domaine Pattes Loup (Thomas Pico the biggest)
Louis Michel (2 wines)
Raveneau
Vocoret
51
Name some top producers from Forets
Vincent Dauvissat
Raveneau
Vocoret (the biggest)
Louis MIchel
52
Describe the style of Fourchaume
Faces south-west
low altitudes at 200m
In general warm early ripening site
53
Describe the style of wines from Mont de Mileu
This is one of the big guns sizeable vineyard facing south
The top soil is mostly red clay and gives powerful and exotic wines with a peachy and mirabelle plum character
Eastern part produced by the Fleys are the fleshiest wines with more color and density of fruit
JP Benoit Drouhin's most exotic wine like a northern Condrieu
54
Name the best premier crus of the Right Side
Vaulorent ( the only Climat of Chablis Premier Cru located on the Colline des Grands Crus) and Montee de Tonnerre followed by Mont de Mileu
55
Name some top producers from Montee de Tonnerre
Louis MIchel (biggest and produces a yellow fruited wine)
Billaud Simon (plots in all 3 original sectors, Chapelot and old vines in Pied de Aloue since 1935, yellow fruited with firm minerallity)
56
Name the top producers from Vaulorent
The only premier cru to be adjacent of Grand Cru is an extension of Les Preuses
considered Grand Cru quality, opulent yet structured
Natalie & Gilles Fevre (old vines)
La Chablisienne
William Fevre
JP Benoit Drouhin
57
Name the best vintages for Chablis
2020 (classic vintage)
2014
2010
2005
2002
Also excellent vintages:
2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022
2021 (50% crop was cut)
avoid 2011, 2013 (frost), 2007, 2004 and 2003
58
Name the best wines of Louis Michel
favors stainless instead of oak
picks late at optimun ripeness requieres 3 separate presses
long elevage up to 18 months reductive style
Grand Crus: Grenouilles ripe and spicy often with a hint of liquorice
Vaudesir full of white fruit on top of limestone
Sublime Les Clos (planted in 1968)
Premier Crus: Montee de Tonnerre, Les Forets and Butteaux (1954)
59
Name the best wines of Billaud-Simon
Premier Cru: La Tete d'Or and Pied d'Aloup in M de Tonnerre (1935)
Grand Cru: Preuses and Blanchots to the more powerful Vaudesir and Les Clos (upper part)
60
Name the best wines of Vincent Dauvissat
biodynamic
Premier Crus: Forets
Grand Crus: Les Preuses and Les Clos
61
Name the best wines of Raveneau
Premier Cru: Butteaux (powerful)
Grand Cru: Valmur, Les Clos followed by Blanchot
62
Name the best wines of Christian Moreau
Premier Cru: 2 different Vaillons
Grand Cru: 2 different Les Clos
63
Name the best wines of Domaine Laroche
Vieille Voye cuvee in Les Lys and Epinottes (old vines 1902 and 1950s), 2017 outstanding
Reserve de l'Obedience from Blanchot his top wine
64
Name the best wines of William Fevre
Premier Cru: Vaillons
Grand Cru: Les CLos (50y old vines) and Cote de Bougerots
65
Name the best wines of JP Benoit Drouhin
Premier Cru: Vaucoupin (chiselled minerality), Vosgros (rounded), Mont de Mileu (exotic), Montee de Tonnerre (warm and ripe)
Grand Cru: Blanchot (pure and elegant), Valmur (heavyweight), Grenouilles (spicy)
66
Name the best wine of Bernard Defaix
Cote de Lechet (1955)
67
Name the best wine of La Chablisienne
Grenouilles
68
What is feuillette?
A local barrel size used as a unit of volume. In Chablis, wine transactions are based on feuillettes, barrels holding 132 liters.
69
Bourgogne-Coulanges-la-Vineuse produces?
red and rose from Pinot Noir or Cesar
whites from Chardonnay
70
Bourgogne-Chintry produces?
mainly whites from Chardonnay, high reputation for Aligote as well as Sauvignon and Sacy
some reds from Pinot Noir
71
Which is the largest premier cru of Chablis?
Fourchaume (132ha)
72
Name the climats of Monte de Tonerre
Chapelot (largest), Les Chapelots, Pied d’Aloup and Côte de Bréchain (steepest highest vineyards) , Sous Pied d’Aloup
73
Mont de Milieu is split into two lieux-dits
Mont de Milieu and Vallee de Chigot – but has no sub-climats.
74
Which is the most southerly of all Chablis Premier Crus?
Les Beauregard
75
Where is Vau de Vey climat?
a cool climat sitting between the “Les Beauroy”and “La Côte de Léchet”
76
Where is Chaume de Talvat climat?
Premier Cru climat in the southwestern corner of the Chablis wine region. It neighbours the other Premier Cru site of Chablis Cote de Jouan on a slope facing southeast
wines are elegant and mineral
77
Name the climats of Beauroy
Troesmes
Côte de Savant
78
Name the wines of Raveneau
Grand Cru: Valmur, Blanchot, Les Clos
Premier Cru: Butteaux, Monts-mains, Monte de Toneree, Vaillons, Forets
Chablis
Petit Chablis
79
Name the wines of Dauvissat
Grand Cru: Les Preuses, Les Clos
Premier Cru: La Forest, Sechet, Vaillons
Chablis
Petit Chablis
80
Where is Vaux Ragons climat?
southern part of Vau de Vey borders Cotes de Lechet
Vau de Vey faces south east sheltered by the afternoon sun and is a cool site and makes mineral driven wines
is one of Chablis' steepest vineyard sites
81
Which is the northernmost premier cru of Chablis?
L’Homme Mort
82
Chablis became AOP in?
1938
83
CLASSIC / BENCHMARK PRODUCERS (must-know for exams)?
Producer Style Notes
Domaine François Raveneau Traditional, long-aging Benchmark of Chablis, rare, intense, powerful; tiny production
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat Classic, age-worthy Flinty, coiled, precise—often slightly reductive when young
Christian Moreau Père et Fils Balanced, elegant Consistent and clean; makes excellent Les Clos
William Fèvre Broad portfolio GC and 1er Cru from across the region; precise, less oak now
Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Expressive, polished Fuller-bodied, sometimes lightly oaked; classic climats
84
MODERN / MINERAL / TERROIR-DRIVEN
Producer Style Notes
Patrick Piuze Sharp, minimalist, terroir-obsessed Negociant-style with vineyard transparency; often unoaked or minimal élevage
Samuel Billaud Linear, racy Formerly of Billaud-Simon; precise, detailed wines
Domaine des Malandes Fresh, elegant Sustainable; known for clean and accessible Chablis
Domaine Bernard Defaix Pure, focused Great Côte de Léchet; family estate with minimal intervention
85
RISING STARS / SMALL PRODUCTION GEMS
Producer Style Notes
Thomas Pico (Pattes Loup) Natural-leaning, textural Organic/Biodynamic; powerful, long élevage, sometimes cloudy/raw style
Clotilde Davenne Clean, fresh, high-acid Ex-Brocard oenologist; small estate, great value
Domaine Alice et Olivier De Moor Natural, edgy Cult producers; wild ferment, very limited, often cloudy
Julien Brocard Biodynamic, polished Son of Jean-Marc Brocard; more terroir-focused, less mass-market feel
86
LARGER / COOPERATIVE / VALUE-DRIVEN
Producer Style Notes
Jean-Marc Brocard Clean, consistent, slightly modern Broad range; some organic vineyards; solid entry-level options
La Chablisienne Co-op, good value Controls many great sites (e.g., Les Lys); classic and affordable GC bottlings
Simonnet-Febvre Neutral, classic Reliable, especially for sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne
Seguinot-Bordet Polished, fruit-forward Great for 1er Cru value (like Fourchaume); well-made and accessible
87
Château de Béru fits squarely into the “Rising Star / Natural-leaning / Textural” category—right alongside producers like Thomas Pico (Pattes Loup) and Alice & Olivier De Moor.
Category Details
Style Natural, biodynamic, artisanal – textured, sometimes oxidative, wild-ferment
Farming Certified biodynamic, no herbicides/pesticides
Vinification Native yeast, long lees aging, minimal SO₂, some amphora and old barrels
Signature Wines can show leesy depth, salinity, and real tension—less clinical, more soulful
Standout Wine Clos Béru Monopole – walled vineyard around the château; powerful, mineral-rich
Location In the village of Béru, ~15 km east of Chablis proper—outside AOC Chablis until the 1970s
Winemaker Athenais de Béru – leading a generational revival; château had stopped producing wine for 70+ years until she restarted in the 2000s
