Our Vintages

First impressions of the 2007 vintage

Following a very mild winter, then subject to the summer-like conditions of April and May, the vines rapidly underwent vegetal growth of rare intensity. By the month of June, certain plots started showing a stage of the vegetative cycle that is not normally seen until a month later. Precocity, drought and water stress were the catch words of the moment, but also the worries of the moment.

But then the summer, thwarted by cold conditions and perturbed by repeated and often stormy rain, inexorably caused a slowing down of this development. As if this was not enough we even had several hail storms…

The sum of all these conditions was a serious worry about the maturity of the crop and its health. And September arrived. In fact we should really say : the magic of September began to work. We saw magnificent and unrelenting sunshine settle in and, once installed, it didn’t leave the slopes until mid-October. We also saw the arrival of the North wind with its cherished drying properties that are so precious in maintaining a good state of health in the vineyards. The winds of optimism had arrived at last.

Despite that, there was still a daunting task ahead. We had to wait for each plot to be at the optimum ripeness for harvesting, this meant that the harvesting period was spread over a 3-week period, quite a rare event in the annals of La Chablisienne.

At the end of the first fermentations, the olfactory character identified itself with aromas of grapefruit, pineapple and pear. The subsequent malolactic fermentations allowed a softening in the acidic aspect.

The 2007 vintage should incarnate the return of balance, that classic character of the wines of Chablis: the assembly of purity, finesse and a mineral tension. At the same time we can begin the long and patient task of ageing the wine…

The Vintage 2006

The 2006 vintage will remain as the year of extremes due to the overriding climatic variations which, in turns, were both restrictive and excessive.

In real terms, the hot dry weather of the months of June and July stressed the vines, causing some flower abortion and partial crop failure. We are haunted by the spectre of what happened in 2003 (still very fresh in our memory) and there watchfulness in Chablis for a repeat of those conditions. Fortunately the scenario of another drought was quickly avoided when the month of August arrived with its cold wet weather, allowing the situation to readjust. However our worries were not over as the heavy rains started causing other uncertainties. Then finally the clouds rolled away in September leaving the sun in control of the skies…

These very unusual climatic conditions caused an early harvest (starting mid-September). A rare and possibly unique occurrence, as harvesting began in the Chablis region about one week before the Côte d’Or.

Despite its beginnings in such extreme conditions, the sugar/acidity balance for the 2006 vintage is in no way compromised.

The first tastings revealed a crisp fruit character. The 2006 vintage appears tender and enjoyable, particularly so for the Petit Chablis. Chablis wines, Premier and Grand Crus gave pear aromas, slightly spiced, thus heightening and giving more complexity to the already mouth-watering and intricate aromatic palette. The work involved with the maturing was fundamental; it allowed the discovery and capture of the tension and energy within these wines. Furthermore the tender aspect of the 2006 vintage can be appreciated as such - and not perceived as a sensation of flabbiness. So once again, La Chablisienne was able to play one of its strongest cards : its capacity to "assemble". Present in all the Chablis terroirs thanks to its members and exploring every facet of the Chablis region, this capacity to assemble and blend constitutes a unique and coveted advantage... as we have shown once again !

The Vintage 2005

Though it is always very difficult to fix one's first impressions about a year and be certain from the outset about its real nature, straight away 2005 was widely hailed as a great vintage. In fact, it is now shaping up to fulfil that early promise. Wtih the first taste of the grapes and the musts, it was clear that a wonderfully ripe year was in store, especially since some plots showed irregularly small berry size. It thus came as no surprise that the first tastings after fermentation revealed a spectrum of very ripe aromas. Ripe Chardonnay was to the fore, showing sweet aromas of flowers, apricot and vine blossom. The curves for the yeast fermentations showed a relatively slow dynamic but there was no blockage at any time, nor any dubious smells due to a languid process. In fact, quite the opposite: the yeast appeared to take everything in its stride, seemingly happy to follow a leisurely pace which, in certain cases, has made for even greater finesse and innate complexity. These profiles have been maintained as they should be in the wines but thanks to the maturing and then bottle ageing, their complex, subtle character has been enhanced. On the palate they display an even, mouthwatering acidity throughout the tasting.

 The Vintage 2004

How fearful and anxious we were for the vintage 2004, especially at the end of August. The bad weather that had persisted for several months would even less help the grapes ripe since the vines were heavily loaded that year. Fortunately, the sun would be very generous in September and keep the rain at bay. In Chablis, September always plays a decisive role in the achievement of a good vintage. And 2004 was no exception to this rule. If in 2001 it had failed to meet our expectations, September provided us this year with favourable clean conditions and a beautiful balance between sweetness and acidity. The harvest began on 29 September. Over 60% of the grapes were picked in October between Saturday 2nd and Thursday 7th. The alcoholic fermentation took place successfully, revealing a rich aromatic range, from citrus to white fruit aromas. The malo-lactic fermentation managed a balance between freshness and acidity, thus developing a very ‘chablisian’ character. Sure of the excellent result of a maturing that took place on thin fine lees, La Chablisienne managed to give birth to a classic and noble vintage.