Chablis Cuvee Emeraude 2024, Domaine Alain Gautheron

£26.95 per bottle

ABV 12.5%

Between Fleys and Vaucoupin. Pale lemon. A bundle of white stone energy, a fresh and dynamic approach, with salinity. I see Cyril’s point about the potential ageability of this vintage. Quite a distinguished nose, I was thinking 1er Cru. Remarkably long finish. 
5 Star Wine - 90-93 points - Jasper Morris MW 

Tasting Notes
Domaine Gautheron`s Cuvée Emeraude, is farmed organically and made from two tiny parcels of 0.4ha located beside their Vieilles Vignes Chablis plot situated above the slope of Mont de Milieu. The aroma is fragrant with lemon and mineral notes and a hint of hazelnut. This wine also achieves amazing complexity, it is ripe and flattering with a silky mouthfeel and very long satisfying finish.

Food
Serve with salads, pates, cold chicken, grilled sea fish in butter, crab salad, and goats cheese.

Region
Only 100 miles south of Paris, Chablis represents the northern limit of Burgundy`s wine regions, centred around the town of Auxerre. The soils are predominantly limestone and chalk, perfect for the Chardonnay grape, the only variety allowed in Chablis. Chablis, along with Champagne, is the original `cool climate region`, with frost being a common problem. However careful siting of south facing vineyards enables the vignerons to produce classic, dry, and steely wines. The most complex of these are produced from the seven Grand Cru vineyards which are all located on the northern slopes that overlook the town of Chablis itself, with famous names such as `Les Preuses` and `Grenouilles`. The Premier Cru vineyards are scattered around Chablis on the slopes of the valleys and here produce excellent quality wines with a little less intensity.

Producer
Domaine Gautheron is situated in the village of Fleys, to the east of the town of Chablis and overlooked by the steep slopes of les Fourneaux. This estate of only 25 hectares has been in the Gautheron family for five generations. The domaine makes traditional Chablis, with fermentation and maturation avoiding wood to preserve the fresh steely flavours and unique influence of the chalky vineyard soils. The old vine cuvees exceed 65 years old and are partly matured in oak. Since 2009 a 0.4ha plot of organic vineyard has produced the cuvee Emeraude.