Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils : Chablis 1er Cru "Les Guymoreau" 2023

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the Chablis 1er Cru "Les Guymoreau" 2023 – Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils

A Chablis 1er Cru Reflecting the Minerality of the Vaillon Terroir

The Estate

Domaine Christian Moreau Père & Fils was officially established in 2001 in Chablis, Burgundy, when the Moreau family, present in the region since 1814, took direct charge of the vineyards once managed through the historic négociant house J. Moreau & Fils. The estate is led today by Fabien Moreau, sixth-generation winemaker, who oversees close to 11.8 hectares spanning Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites, fully certified organic since the 2013 vintage. Hand-harvesting, indigenous yeasts, and parcel-by-parcel vinification define the estate's approach, earning it a solid reputation among Chablis's most respected producers.

The Vineyard

The Chablis 1er Cru "Les Guymoreau" originates from the Vaillon climat, one of the most esteemed sites on the left bank of the Serein, where the domaine tends 4.7 hectares. This particular cuvée is linked to a block of vines planted in 1933 by Guy Moreau, grandfather of current director Fabien Moreau, giving the wine a connection to old, deep-rooted vines. As across the rest of the property, the soils here are the typical Kimmeridgian clay-limestone marls found throughout Chablis, and the vines are farmed organically, with manual pruning and careful yield management, followed by an entirely hand-picked harvest.

Winemaking and Aging

As with the other Premier and Grand Cru cuvées of the domaine, the Chablis 1er Cru "Les Guymoreau" 2023 is fermented using only indigenous yeasts, following a gentle pneumatic pressing of hand-sorted grapes. Aging relies on a combination of stainless-steel tanks and a moderate proportion of oak barrels, allowing the wine to gain complexity while preserving its natural freshness and mineral character, typically over a period of 12 to 16 months before bottling, generally completed ahead of the following harvest.

Grape Varieties

100% chardonnay.