Chablis, the wine, comes from the region of the same name, located east of Auxerre in northern Burgundy. The grape is 100% Chardonnay. The climate is quite cool, which allows the grapes to retain more acidity; the soil has more mineral content, giving the wine a flinty flavour profile; and most important, oak is used sparingly or not at all in the winemaking process. Chablis has often been called the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape.
It is truly remarkable that grapes can be grown at all in this region. The winters are cold and rainy, and frost is possible well into April and May. But it is the cool climate that promotes the development of great acidity, a key Chablis attribute. In addition, the region’s limestone and clay soils, contribute a flinty minerally note of seashell to the wine. One thing missing from Chablis is the presence of oak. Chablis is traditionally fermented in concrete or stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels.
Resulting from a family of winegrowers dating back 150 years, the Daniel Dampt estate currently counts 30 hectares of vines in production including 16 hectares of Chablis Ier Cru. The recently constructed cellar is equipped with stainless steel tanks. The purchase of modern , powerful cellar equipment has enabled the group to increase its production of bottles , which now stands at 150000 bottles per year. All of Daniel Dampt’s wines are produced and bottled by the domaine.
On offer this week is the 2015 Dampt Chablis. Near perfect growing conditions were the norm in what will be seen as a very good vintage. The wines are “fatter” than one would normally expect, exhibiting very ripe fruit flavours but not at the expense of balancing acidity. A fine effort.
The 2015 Dampt Chablis is available for immediate delivery. To order please e-mail or telephone our office at 416-463-4677.