Domaine Laroche : Chablis Grand cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2018

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2018 from Domaine Laroche

Tasting

Color

The color shows a pale yellow hue with subtle golden highlights, clear and brilliant.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of fresh white fruits such as peach, golden apple and pear. Delicate floral notes of spring blossoms mingle with citrus touches such as lemon and lemon blossom. A subtle hint of fresh almond and toasted bread completes the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine displays a remarkably fine, delicate structure with a velvety, silky texture. Lively, well-integrated acidity brings the crystalline freshness characteristic of Chablis. The palate detects notes of crunchy white fruits, a distinct chalky minerality and a noticeable salinity on the finish. The mineral finish is extraordinary and persistent.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Grand Cru pairs beautifully with noble fish served with hollandaise sauce. It also goes wonderfully with composed salads featuring lobster or spiny lobster, premium shellfish, as well as delicate white-fleshed fish such as turbot, sea bass or sole, prepared simply grilled or with a light beurre blanc sauce. Aged goat cheeses also make an interesting pairing.

Serving and cellaring

The Chablis Grand Cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2018 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2028, when it will express its inherent richness and accumulated complexity with developed aromas of delicate honey, acacia flowers and sweet spice notes.

An outstanding Chablis Grand Cru from the Les Blanchots terroir in Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1850 when Jean-Victor Laroche purchased his first parcel in Chablis, Domaine Laroche now spans ninety hectares of vineyards. Located in the northernmost appellation of Burgundy, the estate houses its historic cellars in the Obédiencerie, a building dating back to the ninth century. Since 2010, the property has belonged to the Advini group and has been managed by Jean-Baptiste Mouton. The estate has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3A since 2016 and applies biodynamic principles to its Grand Cru parcels.

The vineyard

The Chablis Grand Cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2018 comes from the Les Blanchots terroir, characterized by a unique soil composition. This terroir stands out for the presence of a layer of white limestone and particularly significant white clays, from which it takes its name. The Kimmeridgian soil, dating from the Jurassic period, is composed of limestone, clay and fossils of primitive oysters. Domaine Laroche owns 4.56 hectares spread over eight parcels within this Grand Cru. The slope’s southeast exposure and the presence of clay allow for slow ripening that preserves aromas, giving the wines their distinctive character of delicacy and silkiness.

The vintage

The year 2018 in Chablis was marked by contrasting weather conditions. The vintage is characterized by a roundness maintained within a smooth freshness, with depth already perceptible. The climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes combining concentration and freshness, preserving the natural acidity characteristic of the appellation.

Vinification and aging

For the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2018, whole clusters are placed in a pneumatic press applying gradual, controlled pressure. The must settles for about twelve hours at a regulated temperature between 12 and 15°C to encourage natural sedimentation. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in French oak barrels, with around 90% of the wine aged in barrels, less than a quarter of which are new oak. Total aging lasts about twelve months, during which the wine remains in constant contact with its fine lees. Each vintage of this cuvée, created in 1991, results from a rigorous selection of the estate’s best parcels within Les Blanchots, blended at the beginning of summer in the historic cellar of the Obédiencerie.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay