Chablis Flashcards
Master the region!
What are the 7 grand crus of Chablis from west to east?
Bougros, Preuses, Vaudesir, Grenouilles, Valmur, Les Clos, Blanchot.
- Les Clos is the largest and most widely known of the 7 climats.
- Grenouilles is the smalles of the 7 climats.
How many Chablis Premier Crus are there? How can a bottle be labeled?
There are 40 premier crus vineyards and in those vinyards are lieu-dits (sub-vineyards) that bring the total number of premier crus vineyards to roughly 80.
What are the 4 Chablis AOP’s?
Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cur, Chablis Grand Cru.
Petit Chablis - min 9% alcohol
Chablis - min 10% alcohol
Premier Cru- min 10.5% alcohol
Grand Cru- min 11% alcohol
What are some the best Chablis Premier Cru vineyards?
Some of the best-known Premiers Crus are Fourchaume, Mont de Milieu, Montmains, Vaillons, and Montée de Tonnerre, which in some particularly successful vintages can develop as appetisingly as a Grand Cru Chablis.
What is the climate of Chablis?
The climate of Chablis is cooler than the rest of Burgundy and has similar macro-climates to that of Champagne.
Describe the soil type of Chablis?
The region’s oldest soil dates back to the Upper Jurassic age, over 180 million years ago and includes a vineyard soil type that is calcareous, and known as Kimmeridgean Clay. All of the Chablis Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards are planted on this primarily Kimmeridgean soil, which imparts a distinctively mineral, flinty note to the wines. Other areas, particularly most of the Petit Chablis vineyards, are planted on slightly younger Portlandian soil, still of similar structure.
Name a few classic producers from the Chablis region
Francois Ravenneau - founded in 1948 when he consolidated his vineyards with his wife who was a Dauvissat. His father sold off much of the vineyards pre-World War 2 but Francois took advantage of the low land prices in the 1960’s & 1970’s to procure more land. Harvesting done by hands, yields vary year to year, ambient(wild) yeasts are used, fermentation for 2 weeks in vat/tank and then malolatic fermentation afterwards, aged for 18 months in old oak barrel.
Vincent Dauvissat -traditional style, started in the 1930’s, popular wines are the Grand Cru Preuses and Les Clos vineyard wines. Believes in natural vine treatment, whole cluster pressing, fermentation in steel and aging always in oak. Wines aged in 6-8 yr old barrels, spontaneous malolactic fermentation and no battonage (stirring of the lees).
Patrick Piuze - grew up in Quebec and learned winemaking in South Africa, Israel & Australia. Worked for Olivier Leflaive & Jean-Marc Brocard, started his winery in 2008 and does not own any vineyards and relies on the relationship and contracts he has with growers. Hand harvested, uses a vertical press to introduce oxygen early, uses ambient yeasts, ferments in stainless steel for 3-6 months and ages in older oak barrels. No battonage and bottled with a light clay filtration.
William Fevre - family has been making wine for over 250 years, started with only 7 ha. and over time grew to being one of the largest land owners in Chablis. Hand harvested, low yields, aged in neutral oak barrels that are 6 years old in average, ambient yeasts and then malolactic fermentation. Grand Crus see 60-70% neutral French oak, Premier Crus 30-50% neutral oak, both finished in stainless steel during the last 10-15 months.
Thomas Pico (Pattes Loup) - started in 2005 with vines inherited from his father, comes from generations of vignerons. Named “Paw of the Wolf” and practices only organic viticulture. Certified organic in 2009 and made a name for being different due to many wineries not adhering to organic practices. Adds minimal sulfur to his wines, hand picked, sorted on a vibrating table, ambient yeasts and uses stainless steel, concrete egg and old oak barrels for aging.
Christian Moreau - established in 1874, inn 1974 the family sold 50% of their vineyards to Hiram Walker and then later on the company took over the remaining shares. Luckily inn 2002, the vineyards owned by Christian Moreau fell out of contract and Moreau and his son Fabian were able to start their own Domaine. Domaine is located at the base of the Les Clos Grand Crus which is also the location of their famous wine Clos De Hospices. No chemicals used in the vineyard, harvesting by hand, aged on their lees in stainless steel. Premier & Grand Crus aged in stainless steel and a short time in 1, 2, and 3 year old barrels that are 10% new.
What is the climate for Chablis?
Chablis has a semi-continental climate, with long, harsh winters and hot summers. Far from maritime influences, the vineyards are sometimes hit by spring frosts.
In general, describe the style of Chablis wine
Classic examples show pronounced acidity, medium weight, lees character, and an intensely mineral, steely character unencumbered by new oak. Only at the grand cru level, where the wines are richer and riper, does significant new oak begin to enter the equation. Yet even with top wines some producers, convinced that the influence of wood compromises the classic expression of Chablis, prefer to ferment and age wines solely in stainless steel.
What are the top premier crus of Chablis on the right and left banks of the Serein river?
Right Bank - Montée de Tonnerre and Fourchaume
Left Bank - Vaillons and Montmains
Beyond Chablis, what are three other communal appellations in the Yonne département?
Irancy AOP, a red wine appellation for light, Pinot Noir-based reds, Vezelay AOP, which was a denomination of the Bourgogne AOP until 2017 for 100% Chardonnay wines, and St-Bris AOP, the only Sauvignon Blanc appellation in Burgundy.
What does Kimmeridgian refer to?
Kimmeridgian refers to an age in the Upper Jurrasic Epoch that occured 150-157 million years ago. Named for the village of Kimmeridge in Dorset, UK, it consists of crumbly chalk marl (clay and limestone) and contains the imprints of tiny oyster shells.
What is Portlandian limestone?
Harder cap rock with less clay content. Sandier, thinner, lacking multitudes of fossilized seashells
What did the Petit Chablis AOP help establish in 1944?
Since it was difficult to find out where Kimmeridgian marl stopped and Portlandian began Chardonnay wines that were produced on the plateaus of Portlandian limestone-derived soils were able to find a home. These vines were often found on higher, colder wind-exposed areas.
How many total hectares are the Grand Crus of Chablis, where are they located and what do they benefit from?
All together the 7 Grand Crus of Chablis total around 100 hectares, located on hillsides north of town facing south and southwest. Kimmeridgian soil is all over the area along with it being the warmest slope in the region due to exposure to sunlight and protection from cool winds at night.
