Domaine Louis Michel Chablis Premier Cru Montee de Tonnerre

Domaine Louis Michel et Fils work with 21 hectares of vineyards, many of them Premier and Grand Cru. This Premier Cru Chablis uses Chardonnay grapes from old vines planted in 1974.  Located on the right bank of the Serein, alongside the Grand Crus, Montée de Tonnerre is the most prestigious of the Chablis Premier Crus. Kimmeridgian soils have lots of marl oyster fossils with plenty of limestone pebbles on perfectly exposed slopes. 

Unoaked, the wine goes through long fermentation using indigenous yeasts, spontaneous malolactic fermentation and then maturation for 12 to 16 months in stainless steel tanks, with the least possible handling. Fining uses bentonite if necessary, with gentle filtration once before bottling.

The result is a wine with 8 to 15 years cellaring potential. This wine offers a perfect balance between mineral freshness and very ripe fruit, with a flinty bouquet overlaid by nectar and crisp lemon. The palate is warm, mouth watering and saline, with a spicy cinnamon finish. Must be aired or carafed before tasting. Try with pesto bruscetta, Mediterranean salads, shellfish, pan fried scallop, swiss or goats cheese.

The Michel family have been making wines in the heart of Chablis since the 19th century. A firmly rooted sense of excellence is passed down from generation to generation. They thrive with terroir of Kimmeridgian and Portlandian subsoil, a semi-continental climate and an emblematic grape, Chardonnay, to create Chablis perfection. Vineyard vines are 45 years old on average and located on the most prestigious parcels of the appellation.