Wine recommendation of the month: Chardonnay
Chardonnay from the Chablis appellation in Burgundy has faded into the background in recent years. Unjustly so: the outstanding 2019 vintage unfolds the full potential of these wines, even at affordable prices.
Chardonnay from the Chablis appellation in Burgundy has faded into the background in recent years. Unjustly so: the outstanding 2019 vintage unfolds the full potential of these wines, even at affordable prices.
2019 Chablis AC, Domaine Bessin
Over 30 years ago, Evelyne Tremblay and her husband Jean-Claude Bessin took over the family winery. Their plan: to produce high-quality Chardonnays. This juicy entry-level wine demonstrates their success, showcasing both a vibrant, acidic character and depth and a long finish thanks to older vines. Aromas of green apple, grapefruit, and peach linger on the palate with spicy notes. Pairs well with oysters, grilled fish, or pasta with Gorgonzola sauce.
2019 Chablis AC
Domaine Isabelle & Denis Pommier, Poinchy.
Tel. 0221-13 97 28-23
Isabelle and Denis Pommier took over the small family winery in the village of Poinchy in 1990, expanding it from two to 16 hectares of vineyards and converting it to organic farming. Besides several crus, the couple also produces a "simple" Chablis, which is light (12.5% ABV), fresh, and elegant, with aromas of apple and nectarine, and a salty minerality and acidity on the palate. It is suitable as an aperitif or paired with fish, poultry, and mild cheeses.
2019 Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume AC
Domaine Alain Geoffroy, Chablis
Tel. 02104-177 90
Domaine Alain Geoffroy has been producing high-quality Chablis wines for five generations, such as this stainless steel-fermented Chardonnay from vines up to 45 years old in the Premier Cru vineyard of Fourchaume. This fresh-tasting wine, with its pronounced fruit aromas and minerality from the calcareous soil, has preserved the tradition and character of its terroir. It pairs well with salmon or tuna sashimi, shellfish, and a spicy, Indian-style lamb ragout.
2019 Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume AC
La Chablisienne, Chablis
Tel. 089-895 01 41 60
The winemakers of La Chablisienne have been proving since 1923 that a cooperative can also produce outstanding wines. Take, for example, this Premier Cru: grown on Kimmeridge soils, a blend of limestone and clay containing fossilized oysters, the young wine is aged for 15 months on its fine lees in oak barrels and stainless steel before being bottled. The aroma offers notes of ripe pears, apricots, passion fruit, and vanilla, while the palate reveals juiciness, finesse, and minerality.
2019 Chablis Premier Cru Beauregard AC
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard, Préhy
Tel. 04122-504 32 31
In 1973, Jean-Marc Brocard planted his first Chardonnay vines, initially under organic, and later strictly biodynamic, guidelines. The young wine, made from grapes grown in the typical Chablis clay-limestone soils, is fermented exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve the terroir's saline character. This Premier Cru was bottled exclusively for Tesdorpf. In the glass, it offers notes of apple and lime, along with mineral freshness and complexity.
2019 Chablis AC
Remoissenet Père & Fils, Beaune
Tel. 040-20 20 17 66
The Remoissenet wine merchant in Beaune is known for its white and red Burgundies, as well as for this light, fresh Chablis. This Chardonnay is a classic example from the Chablis Contrôlée appellation, recommended both as an aperitif and with oysters, shellfish, and fish dishes, and even with dishes from exotic cuisines. It has great aging potential, displays citrus notes on the nose, and offers lively freshness and fine acidity on the palate.