Purity! Tension! Magic! The Electric Wines of Louis Michel

Why Buy: Domaine Louis Michel & Fils is one of the great masters of Chablis, crafting some of the most transparent, terroir-driven wines you’ll ever have the privilege of drinking — but, folks: these are not just great white wines, they’re great wines, period. They were kind enough to grant us a portfolio tour of their stellar 2023 vintage, and we’ve selected 4 we love for your consideration. Each captures not just the essence of this hallowed appellation in all its elegant, mineral-tinged glory, but also the low-intervention, no-oak style that has long distinguished this extraordinary domaine.

Our Tasting Notes: To try to sum up the 2023 Chablis lineup, from the village-level to the Grand Cru and Premier Cru, in just a few words is a total disservice to the wines. It’s also nearly impossible to do. That’s how ineffable these wines are. How complex. How profound. The aromas are as vast in association as they are nuanced: an enticing interplay of tart green apple, crushed seashell, and delicate floral notes that evoke the chalky soils. On the palate, these wines possess an extraordinary focus, with vibrant acidity underpinning subtly concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors. Yet there's an elegant, almost ethereal quality to them as well, a sense of mineral-tinged refinement that lingers long after each sip. Whether you're sampling the steely, crystalline village-level bottling or delving into the depth and complexity of the Grand Cru Vaudésir and Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre, the results are never less than absolutely riveting and delicious.

The Method: At Domaine Louis Michel, there's no reliance on flashy winemaking tricks or formulas — just a total commitment to the fundamentals of viticulture and a reverence for the unique terroir of Chablis. Meticulous vineyard management, frequent pruning and stem-thinning, and purposeful yield control are the hallmarks of their approach. And in the cellar, Guillaume Michel forgoes oak entirely, allowing the inherent leanness and minerality of the Chardonnay grape to shine in all its glory.

The Story: "If it's purity you want in your Chablis,” Decanter wrote, “Guillaume Michel's wines are some of the most transparent in the appellation.” But what is purity? It's not one thing, but rather the confluence of many things – elegance, clarity, definition, a delicacy of extraction. And though it might come across, in the final analysis, as a refinement of process, as simplicity, the truth is that simplicity is, well – not so simple. At Domaine Louis Michel, the process begins far before the cellar, or even the vineyard. It begins with continuity and knowledge. For a long time, it was believed that the family has been producing wine since 1850, the year the estate opened, in the heart of the village of Chablis. In fact, new genealogical research shows that Guillaume’s ancestors were making wine at least as far back as 1640. The emphasis, as it was for his father, is on the vineyard, not the cellar. As Bergman’s Bourgogne has noted, “Guillaume Michel … is a firm believer in the philosophy that if you do a good job in the vineyard, 90 percent of the work is done when the grapes arrive at the winery.”

What to Pair Them With: The terroir-driven purity, knife-edge acidity and subtly concentrated flavors lend themselves beautifully to fresh seafood preparations, from delicate oysters to grilled sole. But they’re just as grand with heartier fare, too, from an herbed roast chicken to a mushroom quiche.

Fun Fact: While Domaine Louis Michel is renowned for its exquisite Chardonnay-based Chablis, the estate also produces a tiny amount of Sauvignon Blanc — a rarity in Burgundy. These Sauvignon plantings date back to the 1970s, when Guillaume Michel's father, Jean-François, decided to experiment with the grape as an homage to his wife's Loire Valley roots. Today, the Domaine's Sauvignon Blanc is an extremely limited-production curiosity, accounting for less than 5% of the total annual yield — making them a prized commodity. 

Our Guarantee: Remember, we always buy and source direct, so you can be confident that your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. This is a rare opportunity to secure some of the finest expressions in all of France; order yours today!