Domaine Gérard Duplessis Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre 2019

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Type: White Wine

Grape: Chardonnay

A family domaine for five generations, Lilian Duplessis is the latest vigneron of this estate, created in 1895, having taken over for his father Gerard in 1999.  After going to school and internships in the region (“There was no point in making Sauvignon blanc in New Zealand, I needed to know how to work Chardonnay in Burgundy” he says), Lilian has turned the domaine into one of the very few organic estates in Chablis. The Duplessis family makes a beautiful array of terroir-specific Chablis from well-situated plots in the village, showing respect for the soil and utilizing traditional methods in the cellar.

The domaine is entirely within the Chablis and Petit Chablis AOCs and is planted solely to Chardonnay.  Most of the vineyards are Premier Cru (Vaugiraut, Vaillons, Fourchaume, Montee de Tonnerre, Montmains, Mont de Milieu) and one Grand Cru (Les Clos).  All vineyards used for village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru wines are Kimmeridgian limestone, with the Petit Chablis on Portlandian limestone.

Located on the right bank of the Serein, Montée de Tonnerre is one of the more structured premier crus, distinctly mineral and long-lived. The wine is a classic expression from the site, with aromas of crushed herbs, lime zest, flint, and sea spray. Energetic, with stony minerality and salinity on the palate, with apple and citrus notes.