Region: Chablis, Burgundy, France

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Tasting notes: Pale gold color with a youthful and pungent nose, and some mineral nuance. The palate is fresh and harmonious with flavors of white fruit and spring blossom. The body carries some weight to it and is altogether on the richer end of the spectrum for Chablis.

Producer: Maison Champy is the oldest wine company in Burgundy boasting a history dating back to 1720. Maison Champy owns 52 acres of vineyards. The prized vineyards owned by Champy, are farmed organically in order to showcase the true character of the terroir in the wines. The winery, which has been declared a historic monument by UNESCO, was designed by the famed architect, Gustave Eiffel and sits above an ancient 15th-century Jacobin monk cellar, where the wines are aged in the heart of Beaune. It was at Maison Champy where renowned scientist, Louis Pasteur set up a laboratory and developed the pasteurization method. When Pasteur published his findings, he gave special thanks to fourth-generation Beaune wine merchant, Claude Champy. Pasteur’s laboratory equipment can still be seen today when visiting the Maison.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Chablis has a continental climate (hot in summer, cold in winter) with strong frosts in spring and is renowned for its limestone and marl soils which create wines of stunning quality. Whole bunches are collected in a pneumatic press, then 12 hours settling at 12 to 15C in specially designed wide tanks to accelerate the natural settling process and produce very clear juice. 15 days of fermentation at 16C in stainless steel tanks. 6 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks.