Premier Cru Montmains Domaine

The vintage

The beginning of the year was marked by very little rainfall, particularly in February. After a mild winter, budburst occurred around 25 March, 8 days earlier than the average for the last 20 years. At the beginning of April, frost episodes as low as -4°C were recorded in Chablis without causing any damage. May continued to be cool, with a hailstorm on the 8th and cold mornings (0 to 2°C) accompanied by strong winds around mid-May. The weather began to warm up from 22 May onwards, and the first flowers appeared at the beginning of June in the Grands Crus. The summer that followed was hot and dry, with several heatwaves. The old vines with well-established root systems fared better than the younger plants, which suffered from the weather conditions. Rain did not arrive until the end of the harvest. The harvest began on 11 September in very hot weather. The grapes were a lovely golden colour, rather small, with excellent ripeness and good acidity.

Location

Appellation of 118 hectares on the left bank of the Serein, on very well-oriented lands but very sensitive to frost. The Premier Cru Montmains has a distinct typicity linked to its very stony terroir, which gives the wine very pronounced mineral aromas, with extraordinary power and excellent aging potential.

Terroir

Fairly deep soils over an airy Kimmeridgian subsoil, with a mix of marl and clays. The plots cover 3.89 hectares, oriented southeast, located in the lieux-dits Montmains, Butteaux and Forêt, and are very representative of this Premier Cru.

Winemaking

Application of the principle of gravity to avoid any pumping, which could alter the quality of the wine. Short-duration pneumatic pressing (1h30 to 2h00) for a delicate separation between the solid and liquid parts of the grapes. Very light static settling to retain enough fine lees for the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to occur naturally. The vinifications are carried out in stainless steel vats. Aging lasts 18 months, including 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels for 30% of the blend. The aging process finishes in small stainless steel tanks.

Tasting

Structured, nervy and mineral wine with good length on the palate. Very precise and fresh, it shows exemplary concentration.

Alcohol content

Grapes

Chardonnay : 100 %

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