Simonnet-Febvre : Chablis Grand cru "Les Clos" 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2021 Simonnet-Febvre

Tasting

Colour
This white wine from France reveals a beautiful pale yellow hue, enhanced by delicate green highlights typical of its climat of origin.

Nose
Initially reserved, the bouquet opens up with aeration to reveal great complexity. It exudes aromas of crisp stone fruits such as white peach and apricot, mingled with notes of ripe citrus and passion fruit. Subtle floral and herbal touches, reminiscent of acacia, linden blossom and hay, add further richness to the whole.

Palate
The attack is smooth and infused with freshness, giving way to a mid-palate of elegant complexity. A saline, iodine-tinged minerality, the true signature of its terroir, lingers throughout the tasting. The finish, exceptionally long, shines with finesse and tension, underpinned by perfectly integrated acidity.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with seafood and shellfish such as grilled lobster, langoustines or scallops. It also enhances delicate creamy fish dishes and refined white meats such as veal sweetbreads, as well as traditional preparations like snails with parsley butter or asparagus-based dishes.

Service and Storage

Endowed with great aging potential thanks to its lovely acidity, this Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2021 will evolve beautifully in the cellar. It can be enjoyed until around 2033, with a peak drinking window between six and ten years after harvest to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity.

The Mineral, Complex Expression of a Great Chablis Terroir

The Estate

Founded in 1840 by Jean Febvre, the Maison Simonnet-Febvre is a historic institution of Burgundy. Located in the heart of the appellation, it stands out in particular as the sole producer of Crémant de Bourgogne in this territory. Acquired in 2003 by the prestigious Maison Louis Latour, the estate today retains considerable operational independence under the direction of Paul Espitalié. Committed to environmentally responsible practices, the estate continues an age-old expertise to produce pure wines that faithfully reflect the richness and diversity of their terroirs of origin.

The Vineyard

This wine comes from the renowned climat Les Clos, the largest of the Chablis grands crus at 26 hectares. The vines, averaging 35 to 40 years of age, thrive on a slope with an ideal southwest exposure. The terroir consists of Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils, rich in marine fossils, which give the wine its characteristic minerality and exceptional depth.

The Vintage

The year 2021 was marked by major climatic challenges. Following a particularly mild start to spring that led to early budbreak, a severe frost episode in early April destroyed a large proportion of the main buds. The months from May to July then brought heavy rainfall, requiring constant vigilance in the vineyards. A cooler August slowed veraison, pushing the harvest back to late September after further rain. Despite very low yields, this unusual growing cycle produced grapes of remarkable freshness.

Winemaking and Aging

To craft this Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2021, fermentation takes place 65% in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve aromatic freshness, while the remaining 35% ferments in French oak barrels aged three to five years. Aging then continues on fine lees for 15 to 18 months, maintaining the same proportion between steel and wood, lending the wine a rich texture and subtle complexity without imparting any new oak character.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay.