1997 Louis Michel Chablis Grenouilles

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.”

Grenouilles is a 23.1-acre Grand Cru vineyard in the appellation of Chablis, in northwestern Burgundy. It is the smallest of the Chablis Grand Crus. Major landholders by acreage are La Chablisienne, with 18.75 acres; Testut, with 1.38 acres; and L. Michel, with 1.37 acres. Of note is the wine produced by a cooperative of Grenouilles. It is labeled as Chateau de Grenouilles. 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.