November 21 st -22 nd, 2013 Washington, D.C. Chablis, a crystal-clear expression of terroir
A winegrowing region in northern France A northerly region in the north of Burgundy Chablis & Grand Auxerrois Côtes de Nuits Epernay Côte de Beaune Côte Chalonnaise Mâconnais
2 millennia of history The Romans introduce vines I III Chablis reputation is established as it is shipped to Paris XVI Birth of the Chablis and Chablis Grand Cru AOCs 1938 XII The monks contribute to the development of winegrowing Late XIX Early XX Phylloxera + World Wars = vines in decline 1956-1959 Great technical progress (+ 40% surface)
Key Figures 5 200 hectares in production Nearly 40 million bottles produced every year 4 appellations : Petit Chablis (16%), Chablis (67%), Chablis Premier Cru (15%) Chablis Grand Cru (2%) More than 300 domains A cooperative is responsible for 25% of all Chablis wines (in volume) More than 65% of all wines produced are exported
The Chablis vineyard quadrupled between 1970 and 2000 6000 Evolution of surface wine area 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1950 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012
Chablis represents 15% of all white Bourgogne wines exported to the US market Importance des exportations des vins de Chablis aux USA par rapport à l'offre en blanc de Bourgogne Régionales Bourgogne 60% (en volume - 7 mois 2013) Villages 23% Volume - 1 st 7 months of 2013 Grands Crus de la Côte d'or 2% Chablis et Petit Chablis 11% Chablis Grand Cru et Premier Cru 4%
After the economic turndown, the healthy growth is back on track
A semi-continental climate Fighting freezing temperatures!
A semi-continental climate Icing to keep vines at 32 o F
Photograph vin-terre-net.com Photograph Joël GESVRES Photograph Joël GESVRES Unique soil and subsoil
The Chablis terroir the soil
Soil and subsoil
A single varietal Chardonnay In this environment of limestone soil and a semicontinental climate, the Chardonnay grape finds a unique yet fragile equilibrium at maturity, without over-ripening. Chablis thus offers an exceptional expression of the varietal, with wines that are elegant and with good minerality, appreciated for their purity of taste. BIVB-D.CLEMENCET Chablis is Chardonnay, but not every Chardonnay is Chablis. Rosemary George, MW 1979
THE 4 APPELLATIONS
AOC Village Chablis: the 4 appellations Chablis Chablis Premier Cru Grand Cru 778 ha / 43 700 hl Chablis Premier Cru % of product volume 2% 15% Chablis 3318 ha / 187 900 hl Chablis 67% Petit-Chablis - 843 ha / 44 700 hl Petit Chablis 16%
Climats in Chablis
Petit Chablis
Chablis Wine tasted: La Chablisienne Chablis La Pierrelée 2011
Terroir of Chablis La Chablisienne Damien Leclerc
Chablis Premier Cru Wines tasted: Domaine Séguinot-Bordet Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2010 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2010 Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourneaux 2010
Chablis Premier Cru Left Bank Right bank
Terroir of Fourchaume Domaine Séguinot-Bordet
Simonnet-Febvre Jean-Philippe Archambaud Terroir of Les Vaillons
Domaine Louis Moreau Louis Moreau Terroir of Les Fourneaux
Chablis Grand Cru Wines tasted: Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 2011 Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2009
Chablis Grand Cru Photograph Joël Gesvres
Chablis Grand Cru
Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles Valmur Les Clos Blanchot Les Preuses Bougros Vaudésir Source: Chablis by Bernard Ginestet
Terroir of Blanchot Domaine Servin François Servin
Terroir of Vaudésir Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils Fabien Moreau