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Chablis 1er and Grand Cru
Liner & Elsen, Portland OR
Tasted September 16, 2005 by MBannon with 743 views
Introduction
My first real Chablis experience. I've tried one before and read about them so I knew what to expect, but was pretty excited to taste my first flight of 1er and Grand Crus.
Flight 1 (7 notes)
White
2000 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis 1er Cru Montmain
92 points
Gold color. Yeasty nose. Packed with apple flavors. Great balance, very smooth. Reminds me of a good Champagne, without the bubbles. Nice stuff. Terrific value.
White
2002 Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Montmains Vieilles Vignes
88 points
Pale gold color with apple aromas. Light body, some pear flavors showing. Very clean.
White
2002 Domaine de Chantemerle Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume
90 points
Complex aroma. Juicy fruit in the mouth, almost candy-apple, but plenty of acid for balance. Nice wine.
White
2003 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest
92 points
Subtle dusty aroma. Light body with complex, buttery flavors. Relatively low acid (for a Chablis) and approachable. Very nice. Drinking well now, but could certainly age a few years.
White
2002 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Valmur
94 points
Golden color. Very silky aroma. Crisp apple flavors, very complex & intriguing. Rich, long aftertaste. Mighty fine wine.
White
2002 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
95 points
Gold color, buttery aroma. Subtle fruit, some green apple showing. Should be great wine in a few years. Wonderful balance.
White
2002 Joseph Drouhin / Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir
93 points
Lean fruit, very smooth. Superb balance with plenty of Chablis-minerality.
Closing
Stellar wines. Equal or nearly equal in stature (though quite different) to the few Cote de Beaune 1er and Grand Crus I've tasted, and about half the price. I'll be buying and cellaring more from this region to be sure. The 02's are, not surprisingly, terrific. I found the same to be true of the top whites from more Southern regions of Burgundy.