Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

Chapelot. One of the paler colours, with a much more chiselled nose. Concentrated white fruit, saline, crunchy, amazing intensity here, has avoided the sunny side up quality. Exceptional length. This should make a great bottle. Drink from 2028-2035. Tasted Jun 2024.

Heralding from the prestigious vineyards of Chablis, the Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Montmain 2021 is an epitome of class and elegance. This superior quality French white wine is meticulously crafted by the highly respected winemaker, Louis Michel. The vineyard, family-owned since 1850, prides itself in using traditional viticulture techniques.

A product of pure Kimmeridgian soil, this Premier Cru is grown on a southeast-facing slope that ensures optimal sunlight. The grapes are fermented and matured in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and purity, rebuffing the use of oak barrels. The outcome is a beautifully balanced wine with a vivacious acidity, long-lasting minerality, and delightful notes of citrus and white flowers.

The Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Montmain 2021 exemplifies the legendary terroir of Chablis, rendering it a discerning choice for sophisticated wine enthusiasts. This is an exceptionally refined wine which savours the family’s commitment to producing distinguished wines.

Burghound (88)

(from Montmains proper). This is aromatically similar to the straight Chablis with the addition of pretty floral top notes. The finer, and not quite as fleshy, medium-bodied flavors exude more evident minerality on the nicely energetic flavors that deliver fine length on the balanced finale. This appealingly dry but not really austere effort could also use better depth so a few years of cellaring should be beneficial.

Burghound (91)

(from vines between 35 and 50 years of age evenly divided between parcels of Mélinots, Châtains and Roncières). A touch of reduction blurs the nuance of the markedly more floral-suffused nose that reveals additional notes of shellfish and just sliced citrus. The sleek, well-detailed and more refined middleweight flavors aren’t as powerful or rich yet I like the balance and overall sense of harmony. This understated effort is a Vaillons of finesse.

Decanter (95)

The vines here are aged between 50-80 years, and are planted on deep brown clay soil, interspersed with pebbles. A lovely example of Grenouilles, fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks only with some lees contact. Precise, focused and already very expressive, direct acidity but lots of purity. Will be bottled in May 2024 after 18 months or more.

Vinous (92-95)

The 2018 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru is soft, silky and wonderfully understated, as wines from this site tend to be. Sweet perfumed overtones give the Clos its weightless, sensual feel, and yet there is plenty of depth in the wine that is just waiting to emerge. Lemon confit, mint, white pepper and wild flowers all come together in this ethereal, graceful and somewhat elusive Chablis.

Boasting a generous legacy of premium viticulture, the Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2014 encapsulates the perfection of Burgundy's prestigious Chablis region. This distinguished offering hails from the esteemed Louis Michel & Fils estate, a family-run vineyard unyielding in tradition since 1850. Abiding by commitment to purity, the Chardonnay grapes are vinified in stainless steel, thus preserving a natural expression of the terroir.

Ripened in the sun-drenched amphitheatre of Vaudesir, the Chablis Grand Cru exudes a nuanced palette. Opulent aromas of white fruits marry harmoniously with undertones of brioche and vanilla. Its impressive structure, minerality and vibrant acidity culminate in an elegant finish, making the Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2014 a captivating option for well-versed oenophiles. It's both a testament to the vineyard's sustainable approach and its profound understanding of Chablis's unique wine history, character and quality.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2022 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru comes from two parcels on the north-facing part of the climat, 60- and 70-year-old vines. It has a poised and focused bouquet with hints of white peach and praline infusing the minerally scents. Very composed and understated at first before gaining more intensity. The palate is well-balanced with tangy marmalade and quince, lovely depth and cohesion, equidistant between classicism and the generous, almost tropical nature of the 2022 vintage. Highly recommended.