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CHABLIS GRAND CRU
LES CLOS 2020

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LES CLOS

CHABLIS GRAND CRU
LES CLOS 2020

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2022   2023  

Varietal

100% Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Colour: Very pale, clear with light green tints.

Bouquet: An elegant, racy nose showing notes of mandarins, fresh almond and dried apricot.

Palate: Rich and round in the mouth with elegant notes of acacia honey and citrus, good length and a finish that returns to mineral notes.

Food and wine pairing

Will be perfect for all grand dishes such as lobster or grilled turbot, scallops, crayfish, sashimi, urchins, a creamy cheese and even caviar.

Serving suggestions

Ideally serve cooled down at 14°C / 57°F.

Ageing potential

This Grand Cru wine can be laid down in a cellar for 5 to 7 years

Origins

Chablis is near Auxerre in the Yonne département and is one of the southernmost wine growing areas in Burgundy. It has the particular characteristic of only producing white Chardonnay wines. The area is also recognised for its geology; the major base course dates from the Kimmeridgian era. The Grand Crus are located on a hillside covering around 100 hectares on the right bank of the Serein River.

"Les Clos" is one of the seven single vineyards or “climats” that have contributed to the international reputation of the Chablis region's Great White Wines. This single vineyard, with a surface area of 24.75 hectares is the largest of the prestigious Grands Crus. It is also the most uniform with a regular 200-metre south-west facing slope. Hillside terroir. Calcosol made from Portlandian and Kimmeridgian colluviums on Kimmeridgian marls.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes were slowly pressed. The juice was left to settle at cold temperatures and the alcoholic fermentation began in stainless steel tanks. After 3 days, 30% of the juice was transferred to fine-grained oak barrels to continue the alcoholic fermentation. The remaining juice was left in stainless steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperatures (18-20°C / 64-68°F). The malolactic fermentation was completed. Finally, the wine was aged on its fine lees for 18 months.

Vintage : 2020

The current public health crisis has certainly marked this year’s harvest, which nonetheless has been able to go ahead! Despite the year’s record temperatures and lack of rainfall, there is been no lack of quality, although yields are down, with an especially mixed picture with regard to reds. However, these have generally been very well-balanced. Overall, we have seen nice levels of acidity, promising good aging potential…

All over Burgundy, 2020 was notable for its mildness and low rainfall. After a winter with no serious frosts, we went straight into a spring dominated by sunny, dry weather, resulting in very early bud break. Infrequent outbreaks of rain in June and July were not enough to stave off water shortages. Very high summer temperatures combined with intense sun exposure levels led to the vines gradually falling prey to hydric stress, causing delays to fruit ripening before harvest-time.

Once again, the vegetative cycle was shortened, being almost three weeks ahead of 2019’s. Thankfully, the harvest was saved by the relative cool of the nights. The harvest was of marvellous quality but there was very little juice in the red grapes (reduction of 30 to 50%), and reasonable potential alcohol, despite the heat. The whites, on the other hand, coped very well with these extreme conditions and yields were very good.

A very promising year for the whites with a fine balance between acidity and alcohol and intense white fruit aromas. Alcoholic fermentation in barrels lasted four weeks. Millerandage affected the reds leading to less juice but nice colour and distinct red berry aromas. With its generous tannins, this year looks set to be one to cellar.

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