Christophe et Fils, Chardonnay, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France 2023

Sebastian Christophe's Petit Chablis is a great blind taste where even seasoned veterans within the wine trade can easily miss the pedigree, but not the region. The aromas of sweet preserved lemon, wet stone, flint and sweet and dry herbs are a clear sign of the region and grape.

This wine comes from a collection of parcels located on the plateau of Portlandian limestone behind the grand cru slope and premier crus on the right bank and is not as mineral-sharp as Petit Chablis grown on the left bank on more pure rock soils.

In 1999, Sébastien Christophe began to vinify a half hectare of Petit Chablis planted by his grandfather. Since then, he has methodically acquired a multitude of parcels he both owns and rents. He began organic conversion in 2021 but for many years prior, he had already used only organic certified vineyard treatments. All of his vines are located on the Serein River’s right bank (the grand cru side), and all grapes are hand-harvested, spontaneously fermented, go through malolactic fermentation, and are principally aged in steel with less than 10% in oak barrels.