LOUIS MICHEL CHABLIS
BURGUNDY, FRANCE 2022
Why Buy: We’re here today to celebrate the gloriousness of Chablis. In recent years, as many of you know, it has become increasingly harder to find the great stuff, as savvy collectors have snapped up these extraordinary expressions. But finding is our mission, and we are proud, and thrilled, to be able to share with you some of the best there is, a quartet of very old-vine Chablis from one of the greatest domaines in the world: the iconic Louis Michel & Fils (now helmed by the gifted Guillaume Michel). To say that these wines are life-giving is to overstate the case, but not by much.
The Method: At Michel & Fils, they don't have a formula, but they do have a method, and a time-honored one at that: vigilant vineyard management, frequent pruning and stemming, and limiting yields. In the cellar, Michel forgoes oak entirely for all his whites, the better to draw out the leanness and minerality of the varietal.
What They're Saying: White wines are too often overlooked by the wine press, which just makes the scores that Louis Michel has garnered for its 2022 vintage that much more striking and impressive. "Lovely depth and cohesion, equidistant between classicism and the generous, almost tropical nature of the 2022 vintage,” Vinous gushed, of the 95-point Chablis Grand Cru 'Vaudesir' 2022. "Highly recommended." Decanter was just as enamored of the 95-point Chablis 1er Cru 'Montée de Tonnerre' 2022; its sensual tasting notes amount to a paean: "complexity on the nose, weight and concentration on the palate, along with great acidity, all combined with the ripeness of fruit and mineral notes on the finish." The publication was also full of enthusiasm for the Chablis 1er Cru 'Butteaux' Vieilles Vignes 2022, awarding 94 points and pronouncing it "an intense premier cru with great potential."
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.”
Our Tasting Notes: We're huge fans of this exceptional estate, and our recent taste-through of their 2022 portfolio just confirmed what we have long known: these are some of the best white wines in the world, full of nervy tension, razor-sharp definition, subtle richness, and beautifully developed minerality. Beyond that, they deliver that elusive certain something, a sense of grace and charm that is, perhaps, the ultimate testament to their greatness.
Fun Fact: The unique soil of Chablis — part marl, part limestone, part oyster fossils — is said to date back 150 million years, to the Upper Jurassic period.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so you can be confident that your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2024. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, April 21st, 2024.
