Moreau-Naudet : Chablis 1er cru "Forêts" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Chablis 1er Cru "Forêts" 2024 from Domaine Moreau-Naudet

This is a white wine, displaying the pale hue typical of white Chablis.

The nose opens on white flowers and ripe citrus, followed by a chalky nuance touched with a hint of iodine, a signature of the kimmeridgian limestone found in the Forêts climat.

On the palate, this Chablis 1er Cru Forêts shows a dry, medium-bodied profile, carried by fine acidity and a saline, mineral tension. A light touch of oak brings gentle texture without covering the chalky freshness, leading into a long, saline finish.

This Chablis 1er Cru Forêts from Domaine Moreau-Naudet pairs naturally with seafood and shellfish, as well as delicate white fish. It also complements white meats and poultry, where its saline freshness balances richer preparations.

A Chablis 1er Cru Reflecting the Kimmeridgian Terroir of Forêts

Domaine Moreau-Naudet was founded in 1950 in Chablis, Burgundy, when Marie Naudet married René Moreau, uniting two families long rooted in the region. Stéphane Moreau later expanded the estate and shaped its organic, terroir-focused approach, before his wife, Virginie Moreau, took over direction in 2016. Today she leads Moreau-Naudet, known for hand-harvested grapes, native-yeast fermentations, and extended aging across its Chablis crus, including this Chablis 1er Cru Forêts.

This Chablis 1er Cru Forêts from Domaine Moreau-Naudet comes from about two hectares of old chardonnay vines, averaging around 45 years of age, planted on a steep slope bordering the Butteaux and Montmains climats. The vines grow on kimmeridgian limestone soils characteristic of Chablis, drawing minerality from deep within the rock. This exposure favors advanced ripening while preserving the freshness that defines the appellation.

For the 2024 vintage, Virginie Moreau noted that Forêts ripened earlier than the estate's other parcels, prompting her to pause the harvest before resuming picking three days later in order to fine-tune ripeness across the vineyard.

This Chablis 1er Cru "Forêts" 2024 is made from hand-harvested grapes, gently pressed before spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. The wine is aged in a combination of stainless steel tanks and used oak barrels of varying sizes, with no new wood involved, allowing the fruit and mineral character of the terroir to remain at the forefront.

This wine is made from 100% chardonnay.