Domaine Christophe et Fils 'Vieilles Vignes' Chablis, Burgundy, France 2022

Sebastien Christophe’s Chablis Vieille Vignes is alive with textural grit and dimension. It’s a powerhouse Chablis that comes from two parcels located in Fonetnay-près-Chablis, one parcel above the 1er Cru Fontenay and the other southeast of the village. These old vine parcels planted in 1959 by Sebastien’s grandfather render a wine that often starts rich and somewhat subtle in the nose (similar to a Saumur or Côte d’Or white when first opened) but narrows into a wine with a dense core of rich mineral impressions and begins to blossom and freshen up in the glass, unfolding one layer after another rewarding the patient drinker. The palate is dense at first but becomes lively and taut with more air. In many cases it can be equally or more compelling than Christophe’s premier cru wines. Vinification: The grapes are picked by hand, pressed, settled in tank overnight, then racked off the heavy sediments after one day before beginning its low temperature fermentation. The spontaneous wild