Precision, strength and freshness are words that form the signature of Brocard's winemaking philosophy. The domain is among the most important of Chablis. Brocard wines represent the higher end of expression at each level. Their Chablis is 100% chardonnay, unoaked and fermented using natural yeast. Lemon, white peach and yellow fruit flavours, crisp and vibrant, pure and fresh make this a great match with grilled seafood.

White gold in colour, limpid and brilliant with golden reflections. The first nose is toasted, grilled. After aeration, notes of ripe, slightly stewed, caramelized white-fleshed fruit appear. Seductively soft, sweet notes. Balanced in the mouth. We find these notes of fruit bringing fullness and roundness. A saline hint on the finish brings energy and length. The whole is structured with a noticeable, well-integrated woodiness.

Pierrick Laroche, the proud owner of Domaine des Hâtes, continues the legacy of his family's estate located in the picturesque village of Maligny, in the north-west sector of Chablis. Established by his father in the 1970s, Pierrick's family vineyard holdings have gradually expanded over time, resulting in the current size of around 33 hectares. After obtaining a degree in oenology from Beaune, Pierrick embarked on a journey to gain valuable experience by traveling the world and undertaking various internships. Armed with knowledge and a deep passion for winemaking, he returned home to take over the family vineyards and start producing his own wines. Pierrick's cellars, ingeniously built into the side of a hill in the village, allow for much of the winemaking process to be conducted by gravity ensuring gentle handling of the grapes. The vinification takes place traditionally in stainless steel tanks, while some of the Premier and Grand Cru wines undergo a small portion of aging in used barrels, allowing for a full malolactic fermentation. One of his oldest vineyard plots, Les Châtillons, planted in the early 1970s, sits just behind the hill of the Grand Crus and showcases the meticulous use of barrel aging, which adds complexity and depth to the cuvée. In 2016, Pierrick expanded his range by starting a small négoce operation, sourcing must from friends who predominantly farm on the left side of the river. This addition includes premier crus such as Beauroy, Beauregard and Vau de Vey, as well as the grand cru of Bougros. In 2019, Pierrick inherited 8 acres of vines from his father-in-law in the southern sector of Chablis, around the village of Courgis. This inheritance includes Petit Chablis, 5.5 acres of Chablis and just over half an acre of the premier cru Les Butteaux. Pierrick Laroche's dedication to his craft is evident in every bottle of wine he produces. With a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, his wines showcase the unique terroir of Chablis, captivating enthusiasts with their finesse, complexity and distinct character. As Pierrick continues to nurture and expand his vineyards, he upholds the family legacy while leaving his own mark on the world of Chablis winemaking. The name of Pierrick's Domaine, "hâtes" refers to an old agricultural unit of measure, similar to the English rod. It evokes the long and slender fields used for sowing, where the longer rows made plowing easier with fewer turns. The term "hâtes" was often used to describe such fields. The 2021 Domaine des Hâtes Pierrick Laroche Chablis is a promising and faithful expression of the unique terroir of Chablis. Crafted from vineyards averaging 25 years old in proximity to Chablis village, this wine benefits from Pierrick Laroche's meticulous vineyard and cellar work. On the nose, aromas of lemon zest, green apple and honeysuckle are found, reflecting the influence of the Kimmeridgian limestone soils. The palate is treated to vibrant acidity and flavors of citrus, stone fruits and a subtle mineral note, showing the hallmark terroir-driven character of Chablis. While youthful and delicious now, this Chablis also possesses the structure and acidity to evolve and gain more complexity over 5-10 years.

Defaix's Chablis comes from a range of parcels with different vine age and aspects. Aged on fine lees in glass-lined tanks, this is a textural, and uplifting Chablis rich in oyster shell and citrus notes and driving freshness on the finish.

Defaix's Petit Chablis is drawn exclusively from Kimmeridgian-based soils unlike most Petit that generally comes from the low-lying sites on Portlandian limestone to the north of the commune. It's not necessarily the type of limestone but its location that makes the difference, with Defaix's small parcel being very well situated for this level, high on the slopes of Milly. With juicy apple and stone fruit aromas and flavours, pulpy texture, a vibrant, cool close, it's a wine "on the fruit" as the French would say. It reflects both the depth of the vintage and the cool soils of the region. Certified organic.'An expressive nose blends notes of iodine and sea breeze with those of a mix of yellow orchard fruit. There is good richness to the very round and seductively textured flavors that possess evident salinity on the delicious finale. This should drink well almost immediately.' - Allen Meadows.

Many of us wine drinkers have a soft spot for Chablis. Its with great reason too, given our climate and affi nity with seafood. A little over two months ago, we were thrilled when this wine hit our shores for the first time following a selective buying trip. Once again, it showcased its undisputed quality and notoriety in our tasting sessions. Established in 1850, this small family owned domain is the proven choice of so many when it comes to great Chablis. The estate comprises a mere 45 hectares of vines scattered throughout the region, grown on the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Textbook in expression and style, super fi ne and elegant, this 2013 has perfectly poised, piercing acidity. This drives superb length of flavour on the featherweight light palate. Is there a better oyster wine?

Pierrick Laroche, the proud owner of Domaine des Hâtes, continues the legacy of his family's estate located in the picturesque village of Maligny, in the north-west sector of Chablis. Established by his father in the 1970s, Pierrick's family vineyard holdings have gradually expanded over time, resulting in the current size of around 33 hectares. After obtaining a degree in oenology from Beaune, Pierrick embarked on a journey to gain valuable experience by traveling the world and undertaking various internships. Armed with knowledge and a deep passion for winemaking, he returned home to take over the family vineyards and start producing his own wines. Pierrick's cellars, ingeniously built into the side of a hill in the village, allow for much of the winemaking process to be conducted by gravity ensuring gentle handling of the grapes. The vinification takes place traditionally in stainless steel tanks, while some of the Premier and Grand Cru wines undergo a small portion of aging in used barrels, allowing for a full malolactic fermentation. One of his oldest vineyard plots, Les Châtillons, planted in the early 1970s, sits just behind the hill of the Grand Crus and showcases the meticulous use of barrel aging, which adds complexity and depth to the cuvée. In 2016, Pierrick expanded his range by starting a small négoce operation, sourcing must from friends who predominantly farm on the left side of the river. This addition includes premier crus such as Beauroy, Beauregard and Vau de Vey, as well as the grand cru of Bougros. In 2019, Pierrick inherited 8 acres of vines from his father-in-law in the southern sector of Chablis, around the village of Courgis. This inheritance includes Petit Chablis, 5.5 acres of Chablis and just over half an acre of the premier cru Les Butteaux. Pierrick Laroche's dedication to his craft is evident in every bottle of wine he produces. With a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, his wines showcase the unique terroir of Chablis, captivating enthusiasts with their finesse, complexity and distinct character. As Pierrick continues to nurture and expand his vineyards, he upholds the family legacy while leaving his own mark on the world of Chablis winemaking. The name of Pierrick's Domaine, "hâtes" refers to an old agricultural unit of measure, similar to the English rod. It evokes the long and slender fields used for sowing, where the longer rows made plowing easier with fewer turns. The term "hâtes" was often used to describe such fields. The Domaine des Hâtes Pierrick Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume l'Homme Mort 2020 is a captivating wine that exemplifies the excellence of Premier Cru Chablis. Crafted from vineyards spanning approximately 1.1 hectares in the renowned Fourchaume climat, this wine is a testament to Pierrick Laroche's expertise and dedication. This wine represents the unique characteristics of the Fourchaume climat. The terroir, with its limestone soils, imparts a distinct character to the wine. The precise flavour profile of the 2020 vintage has a harmonious balance of flavors, vibrant acidity and a subtle mineral undertone that are typical of Premier Cru Chablis. The Domaine des Hâtes Pierrick Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume l'Homme Mort 2020 is a wine that captivates with its finesse, complexity and the expression of its Premier Cru terroir. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with seafood or poultry dishes, this Chablis is sure to impress with its elegance and depth. Pierrick's vineyards boast an average vine age of 25 years, with some vines reaching up to 35 years old. The winemaking process involves the use of indigenous yeast, allowing for a very long and slow alcoholic fermentation lasting 2-3 months. Following fermentation, the wine is carefully aged with 60% aged in stainless steel tanks and the remaining 40% in aged barrels. This aging process spans 18 months culminating in bottling during the spring. The result is a wine of exceptional complexity and depth, thanks to the meticulous elevage techniques employed by Pierrick Laroche.

Pierrick Laroche, the proud owner of Domaine des Hâtes, continues the legacy of his family's estate located in the picturesque village of Maligny, in the north-west sector of Chablis. Established by his father in the 1970s, Pierrick's family vineyard holdings have gradually expanded over time, resulting in the current size of around 33 hectares. After obtaining a degree in oenology from Beaune, Pierrick embarked on a journey to gain valuable experience by traveling the world and undertaking various internships. Armed with knowledge and a deep passion for winemaking, he returned home to take over the family vineyards and start producing his own wines. Pierrick's cellars, ingeniously built into the side of a hill in the village, allow for much of the winemaking process to be conducted by gravity ensuring gentle handling of the grapes. The vinification takes place traditionally in stainless steel tanks, while some of the Premier and Grand Cru wines undergo a small portion of aging in used barrels, allowing for a full malolactic fermentation. One of his oldest vineyard plots, Les Châtillons, planted in the early 1970s, sits just behind the hill of the Grand Crus and showcases the meticulous use of barrel aging, which adds complexity and depth to the cuvée. In 2016, Pierrick expanded his range by starting a small négoce operation, sourcing must from friends who predominantly farm on the left side of the river. This addition includes premier crus such as Beauroy, Beauregard and Vau de Vey, as well as the grand cru of Bougros. In 2019, Pierrick inherited 8 acres of vines from his father-in-law in the southern sector of Chablis, around the village of Courgis. This inheritance includes Petit Chablis, 5.5 acres of Chablis and just over half an acre of the premier cru Les Butteaux. Pierrick Laroche's dedication to his craft is evident in every bottle of wine he produces. With a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, his wines showcase the unique terroir of Chablis, captivating enthusiasts with their finesse, complexity and distinct character. As Pierrick continues to nurture and expand his vineyards, he upholds the family legacy while leaving his own mark on the world of Chablis winemaking. The name of Pierrick's Domaine, "hâtes" refers to an old agricultural unit of measure, similar to the English rod. It evokes the long and slender fields used for sowing, where the longer rows made plowing easier with fewer turns. The term "hâtes" was often used to describe such fields. Crafted from the vineyards of Domaine des Hâtes, this is a wine that showcases the unique characteristics of the Petit Chablis classification. With nearly 12 hectares of Petit Chablis vineyards, Pierrick Laroche's dedication to quality winemaking is evident in every sip. Petit Chablis is classified as such due to the presence of younger Portlandian limestone, rather than the older Kimmeridgian limestone found in other Chablis classifications. This distinction often results in higher elevation sites, as the Portlandian limestone overlays the Kimmeridgian. Additionally, Petit Chablis vineyards tend to have less clay in the soil composition. Pierrick Laroche holds the belief that one of his largest parcels of Petit Chablis should be classified as Chablis. This particular vineyard produces wines that exhibit the characteristics typically associated with Chablis, and it is surrounded by AOC Chablis vines. The terroir of this parcel contributes to the wine's exceptional quality and distinct expression. The Pierrick Laroche Petit Chablis 2022 offers a captivating tasting experience. On the nose, expect vibrant aromas that reflect the youthful limestone terroir. The palate is greeted with a refreshing acidity that enlivens the senses. Delicate flavors of citrus fruits, crisp apple and a subtle mineral undertone dance on the palate, creating a harmonious and well-balanced profile. The finish is clean and lingering, leaving a sense of purity and elegance.