3.1 Chablis

Question 1

Describe the climate, appellations and wine styles of Chablis

Answer 1

• Chablis has a cool climate (northern Burgundy so cooler than other Cote d’Or)
• Only Chardonnay allowed in the Chablis appellation
  
  • Petit Chablis AOC
  • Chablis AOC
  • Chablis Premier Cru AOC
  • Chablis Grand Cru AOC
• Wines are typically dry, m body, m alc, zesty hi acid, green apple and lemon fruit
  
  • General trend is no oak, but some producers for premier and grand crus do ferment, and age in oak
• G - OS quality, mid - prem and some sprem prices
  
  • (however not as expensive as top Cote d’Or wines)

Question 2

Comment on the Climate and Grape growing in Chablis

Answer 2

• Cool Continental (48degN)
  
  • cold winter, warm summer
  • Uncertainty about ripening, considerable vintage variation yony
• Chardonnay ripens early = advantage
  
  • in addition, pruning late protects it a little from spring frost
• Ave rain 670mm spread over the year ~ moist climate
  
  • threat of fungal disease and rot at harvest
• Spring frost, hail - reduce yields
• Frost managed by
  
  • smudge pots (pollution / manpower)
  • sprinklers (aspersion) most populat - (installation/maintenance cost makes it affordable only to prestigous (roi), or well funded
  • pruning later -promotes later bud-burst ~ reduces chance of damage to new buds from spring frost
• Vineyard:
  
  • 41B (vinfera x berlandieri) for tolerance of limestone + high ph
  • 420A (riparia x berlandieri) for low vigour and tolerance of high ph
  • Double guyot replacement cane training typical (if one cane fails the other may survive frost) (NOTE NOT Taille Chablis ~ Champagne)
  • 5500 ha, yields higher than Cote d’Or, but recent years severely reduced due to frost/hail
  • Machine picked unless the VY is too steep - as is the case for most grand cru which are picked by hand - steep hills

Question 3

2 ways Chablis Grand Cru Vineyards typically deal with the high risk of frost?

Answer 3

Sprinklers, smudge pots, pruning later for a later bud break.

Vineyard Management (planting on slopes)

Question 4

What type of soil are the best Chablis vineyards located on?

What is it comprised of?

Answer 4

• Petit Chablis - typically higher, cooler, predominantly Portlandian soils (hard limestone, less clay)
• Chablis -Kimmeridgian and mixed aspects
  
  • Both Petit- and Chablis are on flat land or gentle slope
  • many north-facing sites = light body wines, high acidity
  • light (Petit) and medium (Chablis) intensity - green apple+ lemon fruit
    ​
• Chablis Premier Cru
  
  • 40 VY predominantly s-e facing slopes - Kimmeridgian soil.
    
    • (Mixture of limestone/clay w/millions of oyster fossils.)
• Chablis Grand Cru (1 of)
  
  • 7 named VY ~ Climats
    
    • e.g. Les Clos and Vaudesir
  • Right bank of River Serein, facing SW on Kimmerdigian soil
    
    • Mix of crumbly marl with good drainage and high clay for water retent. cont to higher quality of this 1% of Chablis vol.
  • Protected from wind by Tree break.

Aspect

S-facing slopes - wines have geater weight and concentration than premier Cru or village level Chablis, thus also ability to age.

Question 5

Comment on Chablis winemaking

Answer 5

• Option for chaptalisation to legal limit used regularly (except in warm yrs)
• Fermentation in SS, storage in SS or concrete for a few months (most wines)
• MaloC is common to soften acidity
• Wines may spend some months on lees for texture
• Oak flavours - is a style thing among the P/G Crus
  
  • typically not desirable nor found
  • Chablis is celebrated for crisp bright citrus and green apple fruit, high acidity
• GRand Cru / some Pr Cru
  
  • Some might be fermented and aged in barrel
  • some old oak (Dauvissat / Ravenaeau)
  • some new oak (William Fevre)
  • some SS / concrete (Jean-Marc Brocard)

Question 6

What regulations exist for Chablis

Answer 6

• Only Chardonnay
• Max yield
  
  • 60hl/ha - Petit and Chablis
  • 58 hl/ha - Premier Cru
  • 54 hl/ha Grand Cru

Question 7

Describe the Chablis market / business

Answer 7

• Distinction between Negociant/Domaine (estate) is breaking down
  
  • Negociants have bought land
  • Some domaines supplement their own production with additional neg. business
• 1/3 wine vinified by Le Chablisienne Co Op.
  
  • Operates at all levels of the appellation hierarchy
• Increasing numbers of growers are producing and selling own wine
• Associations:
  
  • Le Syndicat de Defense de Lappellation de Chablis
    
    • combats fraud, addresses environ. issues - founded by William Fevre
  • L’Union des Grands Crus de Chablis
    
    • voluntary; promotes quality of Gr Cru/sustainable viti.; ltd to owners of G Cru sites
• Name of domaine/level of appellation drives price
  
  • Petit. and Chablis AOC - mid - premium
  • P Cru, Gr Cru - prem to sprem
  • Wines from renowned prod “Raveneau”, “Dauvissat” sell at ext high price
  • Generally Chablis is less exp than the rest of Cote d’Or
• 2/3 Chablis is exported: UK, USA; Japan; Sweden

Question 8

How many VY are included in the Chablis Appellations for P / G Cru

Answer 8

Premier Cru Vineyards

40 names vineyards (climats)

Some of these have named plots (lieux-dits)- name may appear on lable

Grand Cru Vineyards

7 named vineyards (climats)

• A climat is a named vineyard fixed in the AOC legislation
• A lieu-dit is a named piece of land in the central land register

Question 9

What is the name of the river that runs through Chablis?

Answer 9

River Serein.