LOUIS MICHEL CHABLIS VAILLONS PREMIER CRU 2022

LOUIS MICHEL CHABLIS VAILLONS PREMIER CRU 2022

$47.99 x 12 bottles US LOW

$52 Reg

90-93 points Burghound A markedly more floral-suffused nose reveals additional notes of spice, shellfish and just sliced citrus. The sleek, well-detailed and more refined middleweight flavors aren't as powerful or rich yet I like the balance and overall sense of harmony. This understated effort is a Vaillons of finesse.

90-92 pts Vinous: The 2022 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru comes from two parcels (Vaillons and Roncières). It has a very aromatic floral bouquet with mirabelle, jasmine and orchard fruit, with a hint of nougat in the background. Very fine delineation. The palate is taut and crisp on the entry, slightly waxy in texture, and maybe even a little petrol-y in style. It has good depth and crisp acidity but shuts down somewhat towards the finish. Cellar for 3-4 years. - By Neal Martin on July 2023

90-92 pts Jasper Morris: A pretty mid lemon yellow. Some fresh citrus infuses the nose. A bit of grapefruit, this is almost old fashioned in its aquiline style. The stones are in control, with an iodine wash at the finish. Drink from 2027-2034.

Terroir: Kimmeridgian. Left bank. Hard limestone in a soil with a high clay content. Moderately deep with a reddish brown appearance. Very warm climate sheltered from the wind. Fairly gentle slopes. South-east exposure. Vaillons, Roncières, Mélinots, etc. When they are blended during the vinification process, these small climates in the Valvan valley come together to create Premier Cru Vaillons. These terroirs have a well-balanced proportion of clay/pebbles. Their soils are deep and well drained. The climate in the valley acts as a heat trap, which gives this wine warm and spicy notes; or even roasted notes in outstanding vintages.

Louis-Michel Chablis

William Kelley 7/22: Guillaume Michel presides over this important 22-hectare estate, which has long been the reference for tank-fermented and matured Chablis, a style that the Michel family did much to popularize in the 1980s. Intense and tensile wines are the calling card here, pure and unadorned in style and consistently high in quality. Indeed, I sometimes think that Louis Michel is the most underrated of Chablis's larger domaines. Some cuvées will see a slightly longer than usual élevage due to glass shortages, but I suspect that will only enhance their quality.

ALL wines are vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks, for 12-16 months.