Ep 392: The Greats -- Chablis

<p>One of the greatest Chardonnays (and actually white wines) in the world comes from Chablis in the northern part of Burgundy. In this show we discuss this historic region and why it is capable of making the most distinctive, minerally, terroir-driven white wines made. </p> <p> </p> <p>Here are the show notes: </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href= "https://www.chablis-wines.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/chablis_map.jpeg" alt= "" width="395" height="264" /><em><span style= "font-size: 8pt;">Map: https://www.chablis-wines.com</span></em></a></p> <ul> <li><strong>Location:</strong> At nearly 48˚N latitude in the northern part of the Bourgogne region in the Yonne department between Paris and Beaune, around the village of Chablis, Serein River runs through it, with vineyards on either bank</li> <li>Area under vine in 2020: 5,771 hectares/14,260 acres</li> <li>18% of the total volume of wine produced in the Bourgogne region</li> <li>Also contains: St-Bris, which makes mineral driven Sauvignon Blanc</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Terroir:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Terroir expressed more clearly in Chablis than almost anywhere else</li> <li>Valleys branch from the Serein river – left and right, hills are basis of the vineyards <ul> <li><em><strong>Right-bank</strong></em>: softer, bigger wines</li> <li><em><strong>Left-bank:</strong></em> more acidic, less ripe, more like citrus, green apple</li> </ul> </li> <li><em><strong>Soils:</strong></em> Subsoil is Kimmeridgean limestone with layers of Marl –limestone and clay turned into rock sometimes with fossils of Exogyra virgula, a small, comma-shaped oyster. Different vineyards have different proportions of limestone, marl, clay, loam,</li> <li>Portlandian limestone – younger, harder, no fossils. Sites with this used only forvPetit Chablis</li> <li>47 Defined Climats (can be mentioned on the label) 40 are Premier Cru, 7 are Grand Cru</li> </ul> <