The Wines Of Chablis Offer
We can barely keep our shelves stocked with Chablis these days. The
appetite for good Chablis has exploded and it seems the word really is finally
out now. It rightly deserves its reputation one of the world's greatest wine
white wine regions producing chardonnay that is unique and expressive in ways no
other area can replicate. The upshot to this is that the wines remain relatively
good value when compared to some of the more illustrious Chardonnay regions
around the world.
The kimmeridgian clay and limestone soils of this cool northerly appellation impart one the most unique terroir stamps to the chardonnay that hangs on its hallowed hills. They are wines that ring with a vibrancy, energy, and purity that few can match. They are wines that cellar beautifully if given the chance and for those who have been lucky enough to try the honeyed complexity of old Chablis you understand fully what a treat they can be.
Like most of Frances wine growing regions it has had a tumultuous history. In 1955, after the phylloxera crisis and two world wars, its vineyards covered no more than 550ha of vine. Today, the area planted in Chablis is about 5,800ha and it produces around 37 million bottles of Chablis a year. That has been a hard earned come-back though and one likely to continue despite its surging popularity.
Its northerly position makes it one of the coolest growing regions in the world and that comes with many challenges (frost and hail among others). Go a just a hop and skip further north and the shrill acidities are much better suited to sparkling wine rather than still. And now, it has been challenged even further with the ever-changing climatic conditions bought on by global warming. In 2021 that presented a curveball year that confronted winemakers at every turn and in the years previous to that, retaining acidity and that Chablis mineral crunch in a warming climate has been a daunting task for many but the most skilled winemakers and vignerons.
Despite all the ups and downs there has not been a better time to deep dive into the wonderful world of Chablis. Even outside of the best of the best, the region now offers plenty of elite winemakers crafting better wines than ever and that trend is one that looks to continue. We are certainly excited, and the line-up below is proof of that.
Despite all the ups and downs there has not been a better time to deep dive into the wonderful world of Chablis. Even outside of the best of the best, the region now offers plenty of elite winemakers crafting better wines than ever and that trend is one that looks to continue. We are certainly excited and the line-up below is proof of that.
The kimmeridgian clay and limestone soils of this cool northerly appellation impart one the most unique terroir stamps to the chardonnay that hangs on its hallowed hills. They are wines that ring with a vibrancy, energy, and purity that few can match. They are wines that cellar beautifully if given the chance and for those who have been lucky enough to try the honeyed complexity of old Chablis you understand fully what a treat they can be.
Like most of Frances wine growing regions it has had a tumultuous history. In 1955, after the phylloxera crisis and two world wars, its vineyards covered no more than 550ha of vine. Today, the area planted in Chablis is about 5,800ha and it produces around 37 million bottles of Chablis a year. That has been a hard earned come-back though and one likely to continue despite its surging popularity.
Its northerly position makes it one of the coolest growing regions in the world and that comes with many challenges (frost and hail among others). Go a just a hop and skip further north and the shrill acidities are much better suited to sparkling wine rather than still. And now, it has been challenged even further with the ever-changing climatic conditions bought on by global warming. In 2021 that presented a curveball year that confronted winemakers at every turn and in the years previous to that, retaining acidity and that Chablis mineral crunch in a warming climate has been a daunting task for many but the most skilled winemakers and vignerons.
Despite all the ups and downs there has not been a better time to deep dive into the wonderful world of Chablis. Even outside of the best of the best, the region now offers plenty of elite winemakers crafting better wines than ever and that trend is one that looks to continue. We are certainly excited, and the line-up below is proof of that.
Despite all the ups and downs there has not been a better time to deep dive into the wonderful world of Chablis. Even outside of the best of the best, the region now offers plenty of elite winemakers crafting better wines than ever and that trend is one that looks to continue. We are certainly excited and the line-up below is proof of that.