Domaine Laroche : Chablis Grand cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2020

Tasting notes and tips for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2020 from Domaine Laroche

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a bright white color with golden highlights.

Nose

The nose opens with delicious aromas of summer meadow flowers and freshly cut grass. With aeration, notes of baked apple, peach, lemon linden blossom and dried hay emerge, accompanied by subtle mineral touches reminiscent of the forest floor.

Palate

On the palate, lively acidity sets the tone, followed by flavors of lemon zest, chalk and stone. The wine reveals intensity and depth while remaining open and enticing, with a ripe expression. The spicy finish lingers at length, reflecting the inherent richness of its origin.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Grand Cru is a legendary match for oysters, thanks to its distinctive minerality and vibrant acidity. It also pairs beautifully with scallops, lobster, grilled crayfish or crayfish in a white mushroom sauce, shrimp and sushi. With white meats, it is a perfect partner for chicken in a creamy sauce, Bresse chicken fricassee with morels, or veal with cream. A plate of mature cheeses, notably Comté, also makes an excellent pairing.

Serving and cellaring

The Chablis Grand cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2020 can be enjoyed now to appreciate its white-fruit aromas, mineral finesse and extraordinary freshness. However, this wine is made to be savored with age and will fully reveal its richness after 8 to 10 years of maturation, developing notes of sweet spices and acacia honey. It is recommended to cellar it and enjoy it from around 2028.

An exceptional Chablis Grand Cru from the Les Blanchots terroir

The estate

The Domaine Laroche was founded in 1850 when Jean-Victor Laroche, a vineyard worker, purchased his first small plot of vines near Maligny. Developed over more than four decades by Michel Laroche, the estate established itself as one of the largest landowners in Chablis, with 90 hectares of vineyards in Burgundy. Since 2010, the estate has belonged to the Advini group and has been run by Jean-Baptiste Mouton, with Romain Chevrolat serving as winemaker and technical director since 2023. The estate’s historic headquarters is the Obédiencerie, a former 9th-century monastery listed as a historic monument, which houses the aging cellars. Domaine Laroche stands out for its commitment to sustainable viticulture, with HVE certification and a gradual conversion to organic farming.

The vineyard

Domaine Laroche owns 4.56 hectares of the climat Grand Cru Les Blanchots, around a third of the total surface area of this exceptional terroir. Les Blanchots takes its name from the white clays found in abundance on this steep hillside. The subsoil reveals a complex geological structure composed of a layer of white clay over Kimmeridgian limestone rich in ammonite fossils dating from the Jurassic era. The terroir’s southeast exposure and the presence of clay allow the grapes to ripen slowly without loss of aromatics, ensuring finesse and vibrancy in the wines. This ideal combination retains water deep down to nourish the roots during dry spells, while the steep slopes provide effective drainage. The terroir of Chablis benefits from a cool climate, one of the northernmost areas where chardonnay reaches optimal ripeness.

The vintage

The year 2020 was marked by contrasting weather conditions. After a winter with moderate rainfall that replenished water reserves, an early spring set the growing cycle in motion. The hot, dry summer was characterized by warm days and cool nights, with no extreme heat spikes until August. In Chablis, conditions proved warmer and drier than in the Côte d'Or. Yields were affected by drought, particularly in certain plots well exposed to the sun. Harvest began as early as August 25 and continued through September 8, with significant variability. Steady, gradual ripening allowed for a chardonnay cycle of around 95 days, close to ideal. The vintage shows few signs of over-ripeness and offers the typical minerality and signature freshness of Chablis.

Winemaking and aging

The Chablis Grand cru "Les Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience" 2020 is blended each year at the beginning of summer from a selection of the best parcels in the Grand Cru Les Blanchots. This tradition, upheld since 1991, takes place in the historic cellars of the Obédiencerie, on the very same stone table once used by the monks. The estate follows a respectful viticultural philosophy, with biodynamic treatments for the Grands Crus. Winemaking favors a low-intervention approach to preserve the authenticity and singularity of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay