Simonnet-Febvre : Chablis 1er cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2023 by Simonnet-Febvre

Tasting

Colour
This white wine from France displays a pale yellow colour with subtle green highlights, revealing beautiful brightness and great clarity.

Nose
Complex and evolving, the nose opens with aromas of white-fleshed fruits such as peach and apple. It then reveals a chalky minerality, accompanied by citrus notes, white flowers such as acacia, and a delicate hint of spice.

Palate
The attack is fresh and lively, carried by beautiful acidity. The palate offers a round texture balanced by a precise mineral tension. The mid-palate unfolds flavours of pear, lemon and grapefruit, stretching into a long, saline, iodine-tinged finish of great freshness.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs wonderfully with seafood such as grilled langoustines, lobster or scallops. It also goes very well with grilled or sauced white fish, as well as white meats prepared with cream and mushrooms. Goat's cheese or soft-ripened cheeses are also an excellent choice.

Service and Storage

To fully appreciate the Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. An hour of aeration or 15 to 30 minutes in a decanter before serving is advised. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2033.

Other Characteristics

This wine has received excellent reviews from professional critics, notably scoring 95/100 from James Suckling and two stars in the Guide Hachette des Vins.

The Elegance and Mineral Tension of a Great Chablis Wine

The Estate

Founded in 1840 by Jean Febvre, the Simonnet-Febvre house is a historic institution in Burgundy, France. The only Chablis producer to have crafted sparkling wines using the traditional method since its creation, the estate was acquired in 2003 by the Louis Latour family. Now led by Paul Espitalié, the estate cultivates 4.5 hectares of its own vines and works with a further 80 hectares in partnership. Firmly committed to an environmental approach, it is aiming for full organic certification of its vineyards, thereby perpetuating the excellence of its terroirs.

The Vineyard

Located on the right bank of the Serein, the climat Montée de Tonnerre benefits from a south-west exposure on moderate to steep slopes. This emblematic Chablis terroir is distinguished by its shallow Kimmeridgian marly limestone soils, rich in marine fossils and threaded with veins of blue clay. The vines, on average fifty years old, draw from this soil a remarkable minerality characteristic of Burgundy.

The Vintage

The growing season allowed the fruit to reach optimal ripeness at harvest. Yields were rigorously limited to fifty-six hectolitres per hectare, encouraging beautiful concentration in the berries while preserving the vine's natural balance.

Winemaking and Aging

Following hand-harvesting, the grapes for the Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2023 undergo gentle pneumatic pressing. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at low temperature, between 18 and 20°C, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for twelve months on fine lees, with 25% in used oak barrels and 75% in stainless steel tanks. It is subsequently blended and lightly filtered before bottling.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay