Domaine Bernard Defaix 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre Chablis

Montée de Tonnerre is often regarded as the most complete of the Chablis Premier Crus, and Domaine Bernard Defaix has a long-standing reputation for producing serious, age-worthy wines from this site. Located just east of the Grands Crus, the vineyard shares a similar exposure and Kimmeridgian soils, giving wines of depth and line. The Defaix family has farmed organically here since 2009. Fermentation and maturation occur in a blend of stainless steel and older oak, imparting structure without overt wood influence. Each year, the wine exhibits a clear saline line, with notes of citrus, fennel, and oyster shell on the nose, followed by a mouthful of white stone fruit, a mineral cut, and a long, tapering finish. It opens up well with time in bottle and comfortably rewards cellaring. For those who prize Chablis with both detail and drive, this is a benchmark example of the style and the Montée de Tonnerre vineyard.