2023 Louis Michel - Chablis Butteaux V.V. (750ml)

Domaine Louis Michel & Fils has been in the same family since 1850, now led by Guillaume Michel as the sixth generation to run the estate. The twenty-five hectares sit on the historic slopes around the village, first planted by Cistercian monks in the eleventh century. Since the 1960s the domaine has vinified entirely in stainless steel, without ever using new oak.

This bottling comes from Butteaux, a premier cru climat on the left bank of the Serein, from a single parcel of old vines planted in 1955. The vines grow in dense white clay soil, distinct from the rest of the climat and slower to yield. Fermentation relies on native yeasts, and the wine spends longer in stainless steel than the domaine's standard cuvées, giving it extra texture without ever touching oak.

The nose is pure and layered, mixing lime, pear and green apple with chalky mineral tones, fruit blossom and a whisper of anise. The palate is full bodied and mineral driven, with real depth through the middle and a long, zesty finish. It is a Chablis built for the cellar as much as the table. Serve it with fresh oysters, grilled halibut, or a young goat cheese.