2004 Louis Michel Chablis Les Clos

Louis Michel & Fils is a family-run domaine with more than 150 years of history in Chablis. The 65-acre domaine is today run by Jean-Loup Michel, the fifth generation of the Michel family to head the operation, and his nephew Guillaume Gicqueau-Michel. The domaine has vineyards on both banks of the river Serein and its vineyards are either Grand Cru or Premier Cru parcels. Louis Michel only makes Chablis and Petit Chablis, and is notable for its long-held belief that stainless steel tanks are preferable to wood. The estate has not used wood barrels for more than 40 years. Clive Coates has noted that the estate’s winemaking technique “produces splendidly elegant, pure and fragrantly expressive wines…. This is one of the top domaines in the appellation.”

Les Clos is a 61-acre Grand Cru vineyard in the appellation of Chablis, at the northwestern tip of Burgundy. With rocky soil, good drainage, and a southerly orientation, the vineyard is generally the most acclaimed of the Chablis Grand Crus. The principal landholders are Fevre with 10.38 acres; J. Moreau, with 9.01 acres; and C. Moreau, with 9 acres. Other notable producers with parcels in Les Clos are Francois Raveneau, Louis Pinson, Joseph Drouhin and Rene Dauvissat. Like all the Chablis vineyards, it is planted exclusively to Chardonnay.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.