Varietal

100 % Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Attractive pale gold colour with light green highlights.

The nose reveals greedy aromas of peach and mango, followed by notes of fresh hazelnut over a chalky background.

Unctuous on the palate, carried by citrus zest, stretching to a very long, chalky finish of roasted hazelnuts.

Food and wine pairing

Perfect with seafood (oysters, prawns, lobster), fine fish (sea bass, turbot), poultry in white sauce and mature cheeses.

Serving suggestions

Ideally served chilled at 14°C.

Ageing potential

Excellent ageing potential, from 10 to 20 years in great vintages.

Origin

Situated on a steep slope at the north-western tip of the Côte des Grands Crus in Chablis, ‘Les Preuses’ is one of seven climats classified as Grand Cru. It covers around 12 hectares.

Its south/south-west exposure gives it generous sunshine throughout the day, prolonging ripening until the last rays of summer.

The soil, a blend of brown and lighter white clays, produces a wine that is both racy and delicate.

‘Les Preuses’ takes its name from an ancient Roman road, the “voie pierreuse”, which became “la preuse” over the centuries.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes are first pressed slowly using a pneumatic press, followed by static cold settling to remove any large impurities. Alcoholic fermentation then begins in stainless steel vats. After 3 days, 40% of the cuvée is racked and transferred to fine-grained barrels, while the wine remaining in the vat continues to ferment for a further 4 to 7 days, under controlled temperatures (18-20°C) to preserve its freshness and fruity aromas. Malolactic fermentation is completed, adding roundness to the wine, which then matures for 14 months on its fine lees, 30% of which is in new barrels, to develop its full complexity.