Thomas Labille Petit Chablis 2019
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Situated amongst various plots of the famous clay-limestone plateau on Portlandien soils to the northeast of the Chablis Grand Cru amphitheater, this wine is aged on it’s lees for 6-10 months, depending on the plot, in stainless steel vats before being bottled. Citrus aromas and a lovely zestiness give way to a bright, fresh, clean finish that maintains the characteristic mineral quality for which the wines from this region are so well-known. There is no better introduction to the gift of the Chablisienne than this Petit Chablis.
Etienne Boileau created the Domaine du Chardonnay in 1987 with his two associates, William Nahan and Christian Simon. Together, they helped built the strong Domaine that it is today, making great internationally renowned Chablis. Over the next 29 years the three continued to acquire premium vineyard holdings in the top sites of Chablis, including the 1er crus of Vaillons, Montmains, Vosgros and Mont de Milieu. Etienne, William and Christian also acquired nearly 30 hectares of Chablis and Petit Chablis.
Towards the end of 2018, it is not without emotion that they decided that it was time to retire and hand over their Domaine to Arnaud Nahan and Thomas Labille. Arnaud, William’s son, grew up close to the Domaine and worked until then with the goal of taking over the family business. Thomas Labille joins him as an experienced cellar master, having worked with some big names in Chablis. The estate currently farms 35 hectares in the Petit Chablis, Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru appellations. The estate is committed to the environment and is certified Vegan.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
The source of the most racy, light and tactile, yet uniquely complex Chardonnay, Chablis, while considered part of Burgundy, actually reaches far past the most northern stretch of the Côte d’Or proper. Its vineyards cover hillsides surrounding the small village of Chablis about 100 miles north of Dijon, making it actually closer to Champagne than to Burgundy. Champagne and Chablis have a unique soil type in common called Kimmeridgian, which isn’t found anywhere else in the world except southern England. A 180 million year-old geologic formation of decomposed clay and limestone, containing tiny fossilized oyster shells, spans from the Dorset village of Kimmeridge in southern England all the way down through Champagne, and to the soils of Chablis. This soil type produces wines full of structure, austerity, minerality, salinity and finesse.
Chablis Grands Crus vineyards are all located at ideal elevations and exposition on the acclaimed Kimmeridgian soil, an ancient clay-limestone soil that lends intensity and finesse to its wines. The vineyards outside of Grands Crus are Premiers Crus, and outlying from those is Petit Chablis. Chablis Grand Cru, as well as most Premier Cru Chablis, can age for many years.