La Chablisienne

La Chablisienne is a rare breed these days, a cooperative winery to market their wines. While it was established in 1923, it was decided in 1950s that the harvest would be delivered in the form of musts (unfermented juice), a particularity that has become the trademark of the house and giving it total control over the winemaking processes. There is constant information sharing between the winegrowers and the technicians, linking the quality of the musts to the parcels that produced the grapes thus ensuring the best possible technical guidance.

La Chablisienne, after taking over the grape must and juice from growers, carries out the racking, fermentation (both alcoholic and malolactic) and maturing processes. Fermentation and maturing take place either in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats or in 228-litre oak barrels for certain selected wines.

Their wines are above average of all domaines we tried during this trip, especially their standard Chablis and Grand Crus. What's more, their pricing is very reasonable. Definitely an under the radar!

• 2021 La Chablisienne Petit Chablis Pas Si Petit 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Petit Chablis

  The terroirs of the Petit Chablis appellation are located at the top of the coast or on the beginning of the plateau; They are composed of brown and hard limestones, or sometimes loamy and sandy soils, usually between 230 and 280 meters above sea level, with varied exposures. However, the characteristics of each Petit Chablis depend on the specific plots and winemaking style from each domaine.
  
  Probably, the best Petit Chablis we have during this trip. Lots of honey and orchard fruit. Finish is clean and reasonably lengthy. It still maintains the clean and lean nature of this underrated appellation. Drink now. 88.

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• 2019 La Chablisienne Chablis La Sereine 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  Established in 1938, The Chablis appellation represents 65% of the production of Chablis wines. The major base comes from the Jurassic, more precisely the Kimmeridgian (some 150 million years ago) and we find in the rock tiny oyster deposits that remind us of the warm and shallow sea that then covered this territory. These comma-shaped oysters are called Exogyra virgula.
  
  La Sereine comes from vine of average 30 years of age, vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks. This shows clean and mineral side of Chablis. Some woodsy and brioche notes but overall nice fruits and ready to drink now.

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• 2014 La Chablisienne Chablis La Pierrelée 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  Established in 1938, The Chablis appellation represents 65% of the production of Chablis wines. The major base comes from the Jurassic, more precisely the Kimmeridgian (some 150 million years ago) and we find in the rock tiny oyster deposits that remind us of the warm and shallow sea that then covered this territory. These comma-shaped oysters are called Exogyra virgula.
  
  After 9 years of bottle aging, this wine has become softer with some secondary note developing. Dried nectarine, toasted almond, honey. Pleasant wine and ready now! 89.

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• 2019 La Chablisienne Chablis Les Vénérables 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis

  Established in 1938, The Chablis appellation represents 65% of the production of Chablis wines. The major base comes from the Jurassic, more precisely the Kimmeridgian (some 150 million years ago) and we find in the rock tiny oyster deposits that remind us of the warm and shallow sea that then covered this territory. These comma-shaped oysters are called Exogyra virgula.
  
  Raised from vines of at least 50 years old, it is clearly a more complex wine, fuller mouthful than its other Chablis bottling. Decent length. This is ready now. 89.

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• 2017 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  On the left bank of the Serein, this cru covers about 64 hectares encompassing two smaller sub crus or climats: Côte de Savant and Troesmes. In the commune of Poinchy-Chablis, Beauroy is a climate subject to dry easterly winds. Due to its slope and a relatively dry water regime, the vine suffers in dry years. The soil, marked by several geological stages, is thin and dry. The arable land is thin, with small pebbles and white calcareous clays with bluish reflections. Beauroy is also a frost-sensitive climate. The risk is so high that in 1978, at the foot of the Côte de Savant, an artificial lake was created to fight against spring frost by sprinkling. This technique consists of projecting fine water droplets onto the vines that form a protective ice shell around the buds.
  
  Approaching its 6th anniversary, this Beauroy starts to show its evolution typical of a high class chablis: perfume of honey, hazelnut, marzipan, underlying sweet orchard fruits: white peach, nectarine, and Asian pear. This should be ready now and keeps for another 2-5 years. 90.

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• 2019 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  So named after to the mountain located at an intermediate altitude between two higher coasts, Montmains has two sub-climats: Butteaux and Forêts. Together they cover about 118 hectares. This long climate is oriented south-east/north-east and enjoys the sun of the first hours of the day. Open to the winds, Montmains is colder than other climates. Thus, harvests often finish later than elsewhere. On the geological side, the climate is distinguished by the presence of kimmeridgian marls, sometimes massive under the clays. On the surface, clays, often shallow, sometimes take on a brown or dark red color.
  
  This Montmains packs with potentials driven primarily by mineral characters: slate, iodine, briny seaweed, Himalayan salt. The fruit notes settle down and thus the palate gains its weight and complexity, though this one needs more time in the bottle. 4-5 years and it should be singing. 90+

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• 2018 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Grande Cuvée 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  House special blend from various small parcels of premiere crus from both sides of the river Serein with the Kimmeridgian, clay-limestone soil typical of Chablis premiere cru. The average age of vines is around 25 years. Wine received cold settling before fermentation while both yeast and malolactic fermentations in tanks and barrels. Subsequently, approximately 12 months on fine lees, in tanks and barrels.
  
  Grande Cuvee could potentially be your entry level into understanding Chablis wine. Elegant, fresh, clean with white floral scent, wax, smoked almond, white peach, with some traces of honey notes in the background. This should develop well and be ready in a couple of years. 89+

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• 2019 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru L'Homme Mort 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  L'Homme Mort is a curious name for a parcel of vines. The legend has it that it was named after an old "dead elm" tree or an old cemetery at the entrance of the valley. Situated on the northend of Fourchaume on the right bank, it is one of the largest climates and it is especially the most northerly. It is exposed West/Southwest. The stratum of marl and Kimmeridgian (limestone with Exogyra virgula, these small fossilized oysters so typical of Chablis) gradually sinks throughout the Fourchaume Climate before going up to the North to almost disappear at the level of L'Homme Mort.
  
  This l'Homme Mort shows the rounder, toasted almond, pear, green apple, again that good old briny aquatic undertone. Give this 3-4 years and then it'd come good. 90+

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• 2018 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Named after the early owner of the valley, Laurent, Vaulorent (Valley of Laurent) is situated on the right bank of the Serein. Vaulorent shares with Fourchaume, a number of characteristics, though it is the only one lieu dit within that premiere cru to touch the Chablis Grand Cru appellation: Preuses and Bougros. This proximity to the Grands Crus de Chablis gives it a special aura: open to the Serein valley, it benefits from double exposure and ideal sunshine conditions. The soils are deep and clayey at the foot of the hill, more stony at the top.
  
  This wine shows a bigger, more masculine side of Chablis with pronounced notes of vanilla seeds, toasted hazelnut, underproved dough, brioche, seaweed, smell of the sea. This will be ready in 2-3 years and I think it's going to be great. 89+

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• 2019 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Raised from part of the 15 hectares of Bougros, which are sheltered from the winds through its location lying on a flat highside facing south/west on the top and, lower hill. Like all Chablis Grand Cru, Bougros is situated on rive gauche on an embankment with a steeper slope facing south. This situation on the hillside is particularly mild and the hours of sunshine are intense. The soils of Bougros are naturally well drained with some gradation from the coast, where the soils remain quite poor, to the upper part, which contain more clayey and more marly type of soils.
  
  This Bougros is probably the best Chablis I have tasted during this trip. Fried butter, toasted bark nose, honey, honeysuckle, leather, spice, very complex. This one is going to grow well in 5-6 years. 91+

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• 2018 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles Château Grenouilles 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  The smallest of the Chablis Grand Cru is belong to La Chablisienne, so technially, this is a monopole. With less than 10 hectares, the grand cru flirts with the Serene and benefits from the moderating effect. Its exceptional south/south-west exposure is the guarantee of very good maturity thanks to ideal drainage. The clayey, thin and stony soil rests on a kimmeridgian subsoil of calcareous marl.
  
  My first time trying Grenouilles, showing currently caramel, Himalayan salt, vanilla, wax, seaweed, melon, long lasting. It will need time this one. May be in 5-6 years it can show its minerality promise however currently, quite reserved. 90+

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