Chablis Grand Cru

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The relief corresponds to the escarpment of the « Côte des Bars », formed by hard Calcaire du Barrois as a corniche above a marly slope, with a scarp-face drop of 120 to 130 metres.
• The marly subsoil consists of the Marnes à exogyra virgula, rich in small comma-shaped oysters that gave their name to this geological formation.
• Beneath the marls, a limestone horizon named the Calcaire à Astartes forms a small topographic step near the floor of the Serein valley.
• The plots are situated on a hillside on the right bank of the Serein valley, with a general south-westerly aspect, exposures ranging from south-east to west, and elevations between 135 and 215 metres.
• The slightly continental oceanic climate brings moderate rainfall of 650 millimetres per year at Auxerre, a mean temperature of 10.8 °C, and a fairly significant risk of winter and spring frosts.

• The Chablis Grand Cru appellation was recognised by decree in 1938, its production area resting on 7 historic lieux-dits: Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir.
• The historic core of the vineyard was established by the Cistercians, who founded the Abbaye de Pontigny in 1114 and developed the viticultural estate on the slope close to the village, facing south-west on the right bank of the Serein.
• The sole grape variety of the Chablis Grand Cru appellation is Chardonnay, known locally as « beaunois », which reigns unchallenged across the entire vineyard and is traditionally trained using the « taille Chablis », a long-pruning method adapted to the demanding climatic conditions.
• Faced with a greater frost risk than elsewhere, growers have developed collective protection methods such as frost-protection sprinkling and plot heating, combined with a temperature-drop alert system.

• Chablis Grand Cru is described as a dry, lively, and fruity white wine, characterised by notable minerality balanced by a fleshy character.
• Firm in its youth, it gains in aromatic complexity and finesse with age, its acidity and minerality lending it a fresh character; it is a wine for the cellar, reaching its peak at around ten years.

• The cool oceanic climate of the Chablisien gives the white wines of the Chablis Grand Cru appellation their lively and mineral character, with a strong influence from mesoclimate and vintage.
• The aspect and slopes ensure optimal sun exposure and protection from cold northerly winds, and the site imparts to the wines a great concentration underpinned by a distinctive minerality, giving them longevity and balance.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Bougros AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Preuses AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Valmur AOC (PDO)
• Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF)
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — BIVB — Chablis