CHABLIS PREMIER CRU > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

CHABLIS PREMIER CRU 2024

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2023 2024

Varietal

The Chardonnay is the only grape variety of the Chablis and Chablis Premier Crus.

Tasting notes

Colour: nice pale golden green colour, limpid and bright.

Nose: it reveals the aromatic wealth of Chablis’ terroir with mineral notes of flint, enhanced by hints of acacia honey.

Palate: the mouth is frank, round, with a touch of honey and a spicy finish ; a wine with character.

Food and wine pairing

This wine is excellent paired with smoked salmon, trout and other freshwater fish, as well as with white meats and creamy cheeses.

Serving suggestions

Serve ideally at a temperature of 12-14°C. (54-57°F.).

Ageing potential

This wine can be enjoyed now or kept in the cellar for the next three years.

Origins

Chablis, situated near Auxerre in the Yonne department, is among the northernmost vineyards of Burgundy. It is thus nearly at the gates of Champagne and the Paris region; which it greatly relied on to create its reputation. Slightly removed from the « heart » of Burgundy’s vineyards, the region of Chablis started to prosper in the 19th century thanks to its waterways; the Yonne and Seine rivers.

It is characterized by producing exclusively white Chardonnay wines and by its geology which is believed to date back to the Kimmeridgian period.

- Soil and subsoil from the upper and middle Kimmeridgian period.
- Alternating layers of limestone and marls.
- Southern exposure.
- Altitude of 250 meters.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes were brought to the winery and pressed delicately in a pneumatic press. The must was then cooled down and left to settle, in order to get rid of the roughest lees. The alcoholic fermentation was lead in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats at a temperature between 18° and 20°C (64°-68°F) in order to keep as much fruit as possible in the wine. The malolactic fermentation was completed in order to mellow its aromas and get less acidity.

Then, the wine was aged on its lees for 18 months with regular pumping over. A small part of the wine (15%) was aged in oak barrels, all of them having already received 1 or 2 vintages to age, so that the oak will leave a discreet imprint on the wine.

Vintage : 2024

The year 2024 in Burgundy was marked by extreme weather conditions, including excessive rainfall and a significant lack of sunshine. These factors led to high disease pressure, particularly downy mildew, complicating the work of winegrowers. Episodes of frost and hail also caused substantial damage, especially in regions such as Chablis and the Auxerrois.

Yields were heavily impacted, with losses reaching up to 70% in certain areas. The Côte Chalonnaise proved more resilient, recording more limited losses. Overall, volumes are well below the usual average, reminiscent of the difficult 2021 harvest.

The late harvest required rigorous sorting to preserve quality. Despite the challenges, the harvested grapes reached excellent ripeness thanks to a sunny spell in September. The reds stand out for their richness and concentration, comparable to great vintages like 2010. The whites, characterized by their elegance, are reminiscent of the 2022 vintage.

Initial tastings reveal promising wines with concentrated aromas and fine structure. This vintage, though quantitatively limited, is shaping up to be a qualitative success.