Chablis. The golden gate to Burgundy
Chablis is a wine region, farthest to the north of Burgundy. Only white wines from the very popular chardonnay grapes are produced in the area of appellation. The similarities between Chablis wines and the whites of Burgundy are few.
Chablis wines are known for their minerality. Their unique character is tied not only to the climate but also to the soil called in French „kimméridgien”. Roughly 150 million years B.C. the ocean started to phase out of the area of contemporary Chablis, leaving behind soils rich in oyster fossils „Exogyra virgula”, limestone and clay.
The wines have a distinct taste after the soil minerality, they are crispy, even flinty. The aromas are rather those of salt and sea than those of fruit although sometimes apples, citrus and gentle flowers appear. They usually come with high acidity. Most of the winemakers of the region are not using oak barrels in favour of stainless steel tanks.
Region has its own appellation “Chablis AOC” with four levels of wine classification:
Petit Chablis: The lowest rank of wines in Chablis. This does not mean you should disregard it. It has been created for rather prosaic reasons – the demand for the wines from Chablis in the recent years has been so big, that the winemakers decided to increase the size of the appellation with Chablis peripheries. The wines are young, crisp and should be consumed quickly.
Chablis: Basic category of Chablis, you could compare it to the „Village” appellation of the remainder of Burgundy. These wines are made from grapes exclusively from the appellation borders.
Chablis Premier Cru: High quality Chablis from the specific parcels fulfilling strict standards. Premier Crus from a good producer are wines with good aging potential and have the best price to quality ratio.
Chablis Grand Cru: The highest level of classification in Chablis. Only 7 best parcels, that spread across the main exit road from the village, have the right to the „Grand Cru” title: Le Clos (called the king of Chablis), Preuses (called the queen), Blanchots, Bougros, Grenouille, Valmur and Vaudesir. Wines that are classified as „Grand Cru” come from the grapes sourced exclusively from specific parcels with the name always visible on the label.
