Domaine Gautheron
Domaine Gautheron "Chablis" Burgundy, France 2022
Domaine Gautheron "Chablis" Burgundy, France 2022
Couldn't load pickup availability
FROM CHARLES NEAL:
THE WINE: From 15- to 55-year old vines planted on Kimmeridgien soil, the wine is vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks. Aromas of fresh flowers, followed by peach and apricot as well as citrus fruits. On the palate it is well balanced and elegant with a long mineraled finish. A great partner for oysters on the half shell, scallops or salmon tartare.
THE PRODUCER: In 1977 Alain Gautheron, the 6th generation in a line of Chablis vignerons, joined his father Jean in the family domaine located about 4 kilometers from the town of Chablis. At that time, the domaine was comprised of a mere 8 hectares and was selling around 10,000 bottles a year. Alain decided to get serious and, with the help of his father, grew the domaine’s holdings. In 1991 when Jean decided to retire, Alain took over the entire 14.5-hectare estate. He was joined in 2000 by his son Cyril, who helped create a new cuverie and generally bring the domaine into the modern era. Today, the domaine consists of 25 hectares of vineyards spread across the Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Chablis Premier Cru appellations. Alain has basically retired and Cyril has taken over the day-to-day operations. Their annual production is around 150,000 bottles.
The Chardonnay vineyards are planted on the region’s famed Kimmeridgien and Portlandian soils, and the domaine’s town (Fleys) is known for its soil’s particularly high content of fossilized snails (of which Alain keeps several examples in their tasting room). Believing in respecting the land passed down to them by their forebears, and preserving it for future generations, the family farms all their vineyards using the principles of lutte raisonée: yields are kept lower by green harvest and pruning, they have avoided weed killers in favor of allowing grass between the rows wherever possible, and they use natural solutions to stimulate the vines to be more self-protecting from pests and disease. In 2009 they began working 100% organically on one 3-hectare parcel of vines.
