When I first started drinking wine back in the early 1990s I wasn’t a fan of red wine at all. I preferred white wines and got a lot of flak from friends about my wine choices. At that time one of my favorite go-to wines was a white wine called Chablis. I liked it a lot and ordered it whenever I could get it.
Chablis is one of the best-known and most distinctive white wines produced.
Not long ago I was looking at one of the many emails I get from wine brokers whom have wines available to purchase. One of the wines featured was a French Chablis. Seeing the Chablis reminded me of my Chablis days, and I thought I would pick up a couple bottles to taste and report on them and Chablis in general in the blog.
Before we get into the different Chablis I tasted, let’s cover Chablis in general. What are they, where do they come from and how are they known for tasting?
Chablis is one of the best-known and most distinctive white wines produced. If you like the steely, crisp acidity and mineral-charged taste of Chardonnay then you’ll be a fan of Chablis. Although Chablis is produced around the world, the wine originated in north-central France, in the Chablis region of Burgundy. The Burgundy region is about two hours from Paris, it is one of the most northern wine producing regions in France.
The best Chablis are still produced in the vineyards of Chablis and are classified into four levels of quality:
- Chablis Grand Cru
- Chablis Premier Cru
- Chablis
- Petit Chablis
All French wines carrying the Chablis title are dry white wines produced exclusively from Chardonnay. Most all Chablis, regardless of where they are produced, are stored in stainless steel tanks and are not oak-aged. This result is a very different style and taste profile.
Chablis are typically described as having aromas of citrus, apple, pear and flowers. On the palate there are light flavors of citrus, pear and minerality. Chablis rarely have any buttery flavor like most regular Chardonnays which are oak-aged. The finish is normally long with high acidity and minerality. The finish is balanced and offers good mouth feel.
With the thought of writing about Chablis in mind I went to my local wine store and purchased two bottles of Chablis (3rd level Chablis) to taste on Easter. What follows are my comments on both of the wines I purchased. I have had no previous experience with either of these wines and they were the only Chablis the store sold, so there wasn’t much to choose from.
2015 Domaine Laroche “St. Martin” Chablis
The wine is produced by the Laroche Family Estate Winery. They have been producing wines for five generations from their winery in the Chablis appellation. Domaine Laroche wines rank as some of the top wines produced in Burgundy.
My Tasting Notes
The 2015 Chablis was a pale, light straw color in the glass. The nose of the wine was quite stubborn out of the bottle. After 10 to 15 minutes in the glass it began to open with aromas of white fruit. I felt the nose remained a little timid. On the palate the wine was well balanced with fruit, flowers and crisp acidity that I could feel in the back of my mouth. The finish offered a good mouth feel which provided a prolonged finish.
The wine received a rating of 90/100 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and cost $22.99 per bottle. This wine should drink well for the next two to three years.
2015 Domaine Jolly et Fils Chablis
The Domaine Jolly et Fils operation is located in the village of Yonne just a few miles away from the village of Chablis. The Jolly family has been producing wine on its estate for four generations. The estate contains approximately 45 acres of Chardonnay grape vines. They produce a Chablis Premier Cru, a Chablis and a Petit Chablis.
My Tasting Notes
The wine was also a pale, light yellow color. The nose offered mild citrus flavors. The palate was balanced but mild, giving off tastes of pears and mild fruit. The finish was balanced, a little flinty; with a good mouth feel and a reasonable finish length.
The wine was unrated and was priced at $25.99 per bottle. The wine should drink well for another two years.
Both of the wines were nice tasting Chablis wines. Of the two my favorite was the 2015 Domaine Laroche Chablis. I felt it was a bolder wine, with a little more acidity, better mouth feel and longer finish.
Food Pairings
Chablis wines pair very well with most seafood such as scallops, crab and prawns. It also pairs well with fish such as Dover sole, halibut and salmon, and pairs well with grilled veal or pork chops, chicken, game birds and light goat and cow cheeses.
I would highly recommend you try a Chablis wine in the near future. It may take a couple tastings to find a Chablis you enjoy…but that is true of all new wines we try.
Next LEX 530 Wine Dinner
Our next wine club dinner is planned for Wednesday, May 29, 2019, and will have a Spring theme. I have decided to pair our Glenwood Cellars and Tiedemann wines with the various courses. Tickets are $100 each and the 5-course meal will knock your socks off. Click here to look at the menu and pairings, and here to buy your tickets to this exciting event.
June LEX 530 Wine Dinner
We are changing locations for our June wine dinner to be with our wine club partner: Uptown Kitchen in Granger, Ind. The event will be held on Friday, June 21, 2019. The theme is Steak and Oysters. Additional information on this dinner will be coming soon.
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Until next week,
Cheers
Calendar of Events
- May 9 – World Moscato Day
- May 23 – International Chardonnay Day
- May 25 – National Wine Day
- June 8 – National Rosé Wine Day
- June 21 – Lambrusco Day
- August 1 – International Albariño Day
- August 4 – National White Wine Day
- August 18 – International Pinot Noir Day
- August 29 – International Cabernet Day
- September 20 – International Grenache Day
- November 7 – International Merlot Day
- November 14 – International Tempranillo Day
- November 20 – International Zinfandel Day
- December 4 – Cabernet Franc Day
- December 20 – National Sangria Day
- December 31 – National Champagne Day
