![]() Of the different classifications, I find the most typical and expressive premier crus are those in which you really can taste the difference between the wines. Or at least that used to be the case: ironically, given this year’s savage frost, climate change and higher summer temperatures have been more influential in making it harder to make chablis in the classic style. ![]() “While we are used to spring frosts, we’ve never dealt with such conditions, with snowy nights in the middle of April,” says Julie Fèvre of Domaine Nathalie et Gilles Fèvre, which faces losses of between 50% and 100% of its crop.Īpart from the obvious impact on the vignerons’ livelihood, why should this matter to wine drinkers? There’s plenty of chardonnay out there, often at cheaper prices, but none of it – not even English chardonnay – offers quite the lean, mineral style of chablis, France’s unique expression of the grape. That’s not an uncommon sight in Chablis, one of the country’s most northerly grape-growing regions, but temperatures there have dipped so low this year that some producers have seen the entire year’s harvest wiped out. Stock up on this to help you beat the heat.Y ou may well have seen the recent images of fires burning in French vineyards in a desperate attempt to ward off the unseasonal frost. ![]() It doesn't look to be getting cooler any time soon. Wonderful with oysters, clams, fresh fish, or a "veggied up" summer salad, this also makes for a delightful aperitif. The resulting wine smells of ripe citrus, green apple, white flowers, and flint. A classic and clean Chablis in every which way, this will make the White Burgundy and no-oak Chardonnay lover in your life quite happy. It is these old vines that give Patrice's Chablis such nice concentration, but his decision to ferment in stainless steel preserves purity and freshness. Their average vine age is 35 years, but for this wine, all of the grapes come from 45-50 year old vines scattered throughout their property. All of their vineyards sit on the famed chalky, kimmeridgian soils of Chablis, and it's this terroir that gives good Chablis its wonderful mineral complexity. The couple farms roughly 19 hectares of vines in a very sustainable, nearly organic fashion. ![]() In 2011, he took over the Daniel Roblot estate and teamed up with his wife Aurélie Gendraud to found Domaine Gendraud-Patrice. After spending several years working with his father and uncles in his family's vineyards, Christophe set off on his own. Christophe Patrice is blessed to have all three of those elements going for him. The key to great Chablis is a combination of terroir, wise viticultural management, and good winemaking. To order, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store. 2019 Christophe Patrice Chablis 92 points Josh Spurling: "Lovely, concentrated, and classic Chablis at a great price. ![]()
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