3.1 Chablis Flashcards
What is the terroir for petite chablis?
Higher, cooler vineyards and predominantly portlandian soils (hard limestone with less clay)
How is the climate in chablis compared to the Côte d’Or?
Slighly cooler.
How is Chablis wine typically
White, dry, most medium bodied, med alc with zesty high acidity, green apple and lemon. Minimal oak. Quality good to outstanding. Mid-price to premium. Generally generate less money than premiom cote d’or, with a few super-premium exceptions.
What is the terroir of Chablis?
Kimmeridgian soil and mixed aspects. Vineyards on both Chablis and PC are mainly flat or on gentle slopes, many north-facing sites.
Gives light-bodied wines with high acidity.
PC light intensity
Regular chablis medium intensity
How have the trend for chablis drinking been?
Major swings. Early 19th century boom due tue demand in Paris, about 40.000 ha. then shrank plantings due to phylloxera and powdery mildew and also the railway gave parisians cheaper white wines from southern france. Decline in demand.
World War Two was devastating and left 500 ha of vineyards. Recent decades demand have increased and now 5500 ha.
What is a Chablis Premier Cru?
40 vineyards have PC-status and are mainly south or south-east facing. Some have Lieux-Dits such as 1er Cru Troesmes.
Bottles can be labeled under small Lieux-Dits or the larger Climat.
What is a Lieu-Dits and a Climat?
Climat, named vineyard fixed in AOC. Lieu-dit named piece of land in the centralized land register.
What climate does chablis have? What is the main challenge?
Continental with cold winters and warm summers. Main challenge is reaching maturation due to northern site.
Why is chardonnay a good grape for Chablis?
Early ripening
Mention hazards in chablis
Risk of fungal diseases and rot due to 670 mm annual rain, spread evenly throughout the year.
Also spring frosts and hail storms.
What is kimmeridgian soil?
Limestone and clay with a large amount of fossilized seashells.
What can be done to fight spring frosts and what are the cons?
Smudge pots - smoky, causes air pollution, requires staff
Sprinklers (aspersion) - cost of installation and maintenance
Pruning choice - later pruning promotes later bud-burst, reducing chance of damage to new buds. Guessing it also delays maturation?
How many GC are there in Chablis?
A single GC with seven named vineyards. Lies immediately next to the village of Chablis, facing southwest on the right bank of river Serein. Kimmeridgian soil.
1 % of chablis production.
How is a Chablis GC and why?
Richer, and with more concentration due to south facing slopes that give a good maturation for the grapes. Crumbly marl with good drainage and high clay content for water retention give higher quality.
What rootstocks are popular in chablis and why?
41B (vinifiera x berlandieri) high tolerance of high soil PH
420A (Riparia x Berlandieri) low vigour and tolerance to high PH.
What training system is typical in chablis and why?
Double Guyot, if one cane fails the other may survive frost.
What is Taille Chablis?
A multi-armed cordon system, typical in champagne and not chablis.
How are the yields in chablis vs Côte d’Or?
Generally higher. Recent years reduced due to frosts and hail. Mainly hand picked in chablis.
What is typical for the slopes in the vineyards of Chablis PC and GC?
South-facing and often sited mid-slope.
Slope gives better drainage and protection from frost
Southerly aspect means better light interception and riper fruit
GC also have a belt of trees protecting from wind.
Results in wines with higher concentration, body and capacity to age.
What are chablis biggest export markets?
UK USA Japan Sweden Canada
Is Chaptalisation allowed?
Yes, and used in most vintages but the warmest.
How is fermentation most often performed in Chablis?
Stainless steel vessels with storage in steel or concrete for a few months.
Is Malo applied in Chablis?
Most often yes, wine can also spend time on lees to enhance texture
How is Chablis Priced and how is this based?
Domaine and lvl of appellation regulates this. Petit or Chablis AOC usually mid-premium. PC and GC premium-super premium. From revered producers such as Raveneau and Vincent Dauvissat sell for super-premium.
