2023 Louis Michel - Chablis Vaulorent (750ml)

Louis Michel & Fils has cultivated vines around the village of Chablis since 1850 and remains one of the appellation's most traditional names. The domaine has used only stainless steel for decades, refusing new oak in order to let each site's terroir show through unobscured. Guillaume Gicqueau-Michel now oversees the twenty-five hectare estate, which holds prized parcels in several of Chablis's finest premier cru and grand cru climats.

Vaulorent is technically part of the Fourchaume vineyard, but it sits apart as an enclave bordering the grand cru slopes, with a reputation distinct enough that it stands on its own label. The site's clay-rich, south-facing exposure gives the wine unusual richness for Chablis. Fermentation uses only native yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks, followed by spontaneous malolactic conversion and a long, gentle aging in stainless steel before bottling.

The wine opens with sweet aromas of yellow apple, peach and citrus oil, mingled with freshly baked bread and pear. On the palate it is medium to full bodied, enveloping and generous, with a rich core of fruit that carries through to a long, flavorful finish. Serve it with pan-seared sole, steamed crab, or a creamy chicken dish.