By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: www.louismicheletfils.com/
The northern most part of Burgundy is known as the Chablis region – it produces dry, white wines that are widely considered to be some of the best in the world. Louis Michel and Fils’s 2009 Premier Cru is a Chardonnay-based wine that does an admirable job of showcasing that region. However, is it worth the asking price of $42 dollars? Let’s take a look.
Technical Data:
- Yearly Production: Approximately 10,500 bottles.
- Terroir: Kimmeridgian. Left Bank. Hard limestone in a clay base, very stony, shallow ground.
- Grape: 100% Chardonnay.
- Average age of the vine: 35 years.
- Vinification: With no added yeast, long fermentation using natural yeast, in temperatureregulated tanks. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Maturing on fine lees, only in stainless steel tanks, with as little manipulation as possible.
- Duration: 12 months minimum.
- Long stabilization at moderated low temperatures. Fining if necessary using bentonite. One light filtration is performed before bottling.
- Bottling: We do our bottling in the winery under airless conditions.
- Keep for: 5 to 8 years.
- Price: $42
Nose: Water chestnuts, lemon, nettles, ferns and forest floor. I also get nice notes of chalk-dust and clay.
Taste: An interesting combination here of cocoa powder, chalkdust, a hint of citrus and an ever-so-slight hint of bell pepper. Nice mid palate that is smooth and well-rounded without losing the nice acids. The finish is good but not quite as good as I’d hoped for in a wine of this price point.
