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2020 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
Henri Costal
A long list of growers bottle wines from the slopes of Vaillons, including illustrious vintners such as Raveneau and Dauvissat. But one of the best examples among them is Costal’s version, which is certified organic and hails from several south-exposed plots on the upper and lower slopes of the cru, adding dimension to Chablis’ natural tension. This wine is floral with the touch of brine that is so typical and desirable of Chablis, but it is the lovely mouthful of stone fruit and hint of lemongrass that make this premier cru so intriguing and fun to drink.
—Jane Augustine
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chardonnay |
Appellation: | Chablis |
Country: | France |
Region: | Burgundy |
Producer: | Domaine Costal |
Winemaker: | Gilles & Romain Collet |
Vineyard: | 30 years, 9.6 ha |
Soil: | Kimmeridgian Limestone |
Aging: | After racking, wine goes through malolactic fermentation in 1/3 stainless tank, 1/3 neutral barrel (228 L), and 1/3 used demi-muid barrel (600 L) |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
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2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
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An element of luscious, tender fruit that seems to coat the wine’s spinal chord of Kimmeridgian minerals.

2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
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A stunning value from one of Chablis’ oldest premier cru vineyards, with a lovely mouthful of stone fruit and hint of lemongrass.

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About The Producer
Domaine Costal
About The Region
Burgundy
In eastern central France, Burgundy is nestled between the wine regions of Champagne to the north, the Jura to the east, the Loire to the west, and the Rhône to the south. This is the terroir par excellence for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The southeast-facing hillside between Dijon in the north and Maranges in the south is known as the Côte d’Or or “golden slope.” The Côte d’Or comprises two main sections, both composed of limestone and clay soils: the Côte de Nuits in the northern sector, and the Côte de Beaune in the south. Both areas produce magnificent whites and reds, although the Côte de Beaune produces more white wine and the Côte de Nuits more red.
Chablis is Burgundy’s northern outpost, known for its flinty and age-worthy Chardonnays planted in Kimmeridgian limestone on an ancient seabed. Vézelay is a smaller area south of Chablis with similar qualities, although the limestone there is not Kimmeridgian.
To the south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise extends from Chagny on its northern end, down past Chalon-sur-Saône and encompasses the appellations of Bouzeron in the north, followed by Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny.
Directly south of the Chalonnaise begins the Côte Mâconnais, which extends south past Mâcon to the hamlets of Fuissé, Vinzelles, Chaintré, and Saint-Véran. The Mâconnais is prime Chardonnay country and contains an incredible diversity of soils.
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Where the newsletter started

Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch