Facets of the 2008 Chablis Vintage

Fossilised oysters in the Kimmeridgian limestone that gives Chablis its character

First, what exactly is Chablis? Well, it’s a French white wine made from the Chardonnay grape. So far, so simple. But if I hear some of you clicking away at the mention of the C word, think again, for these are the most northerly vineyards in which Chardonnay can be ripened and they produce something so far removed from what one would, in the normal course of things, think of as Chardonnay, we may as well be speaking of another variety altogether.

Not that much further north, under-ripe Chardonnay wine is turned into Champagne, but here in Chablis, on these limestone soils (full of fossilised oysters that filtered for food in an epoch during which this entire region was covered by water), the grape produces some of the most subtle and liveliest wines made anywhere.

Second, what is the proper character of Chablis? (i.e. what’s all the fuss about?!) The cliché is that drinking the wines of Chablis is like sipping from a mountain stream and then sucking the pebbles to be found on its bed. It’s a little florid, but I know what they mean!

These are crisp, fresh, complex wines and wines that express their terroir as well as anything in Burgundy. If you can imagine drinking a shard of lemon and green apple flavoured crystal from a sunlit chandelier, you’re somewhere near the mark.

And look! There I go being florid. It must be the wine!

Vintage	Wine	Drink dates	Case size	Price	Notes	Order
2008	Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Lechet, Vincent Dampt, Burgundy, France	2012-2016	12x75cl	£174.00
2008	Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Lechet (MAG), Vincent Dampt, Burgundy, France	2012-2018	6x150cl	£183.00
2008	Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, William Fèvre, Burgundy, France	2013-2019	12x75cl	£234.00
2008	Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, William Fèvre, Burgundy, France	2015-2022	12x75cl	£468.00
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