Looking to pick up some well-priced Chablis for aging. Besides Dauvissat and Raveneau (both essentially out of my price range for experimenting) and Fevre’s Clos, what would folks out there consider really top-quality wines with long-term aging potential. Say at the $30-40, $45-60 and $60-80 price points.
All comments and advice appreciated.
N
Basic advice: Choose wisely.
Verget is one I had some luck with.
Low level Dauvissat 1ers are $60ish these days, so well within your price range.
Duplessis
Droin (not to be confused with Drouhin), Louis Michel, Piuze, Isabelle Pommier and I’m usually a fan of La Chablisienne, especially their Vieilles Vignes and Montée du Tonnerre.
Domaine Oudin Les Serres. I have only had the wine a couple of times and not sure how they would age out. But I was pretty happy with the bottles.
I would second Droin, and L. Michel. I like chablisienne, but haven’t found that they age very well. A stealth wine for me is the Dauvissat AC Chablis. Better than many producers’ premier crus, and ages very nicely. Unfortunately rather hard to find.
Louis Michel and/or Laurent Tribut for older-school Chablis style.
Noah, you specifically mention laying down the wines, so clearly you should be considering pre-mox in your research. And while Chablis has probably been less affected by this scourge than other areas, winemakers like Fevre, Droin and Christian Moreau are all quality producers who have had an unfortunate incidence with the “pox”, and so I find them to be less than great choices for aging. Although I do like all the wines for current consumption.
So while you may not like the QPR of Dauvissat or Raveneau, they have shown the ability to be wines that will more likely than not be drinkable/pleasurable whenever you finally decide to pull the cork.
+1 on L Michel and Droin
Billaud-Simon, Picq also
I think most reputable producers will age quite well, at least in the medium term.
Seguinot is a good mid priced chablis.
Im new to the Chablis arena but have been impressed by the 2012 Droin Montmains. Picked up some cases at sub $30. Fantastic QPR. No clue on how it will age though.
I like Fevre Fourchaume but can’t speak to long term age ability.
Noah, what Chablis producers have you liked? Or are you going to lay down a bunch of wines without having tasted any?
Noah, Tribut is Rene Dauvissat’s son-in-law (Vincent Dauvissat’s brother-in-law) and there is some stylistic resemblence IMHO.
Without tasting the big names? Probably. I have had maybe half a dozen bottles of decent chablis, all of which I’ve liked, but I couldn’t really tell you stylistic differences. I have had mostly young Chablis, from 2008-on, and perhaps the best was a 2011 Fevre basic. A 2008 Bichot Vaillons was unimpressive. Had sips of a Dauvissat but don’t remember which one.
The ones I remember liking were tart and mineral but rounded a bit by oak. Sounds generic, but I kinda feel the same about white burg.
Not planning on a big outlay. A few bottles here and there, and looking for a few with age to try to find on the 2ndary market, etc. dunno if that clarifies anything. 
Producers I have liked have included Christian Moreau, Tribut, Dublere (go to Schneiders) and Pattes Loup (I think Arrowine has this). I have liked Fevre, but not necessarily the way they age. From what you have said, try Christian Moreau. But, if you do not know what you like yet, I highly recommend buying wines to drink, not to put away. So many people end up with a cellar full of wines they don’t like. A lot of it is based on changes in tastes as palates develop. But some of it is based on you buying wines I like (or Parker or Meadows or whoever) rather than wines you like. Certainly, listen to recommendations. But only buy in quantity to put away producers where you like the style.
And, I am not advocating buying solely big names. I am a big believer in buying values. Right now, one great value locally in a white Burgundy at the top of your price range is that Weygandt Wines has a 2009 Ramonet CM Vergers for $70. Excellent wine for the price, IMHO.
Premier Cru offers very good deals on Fevre Chablis on a pretty regular basis. I recently bought 2012 Preuses on pre-arrival for $52, for example. From my limited experience, it seems like 2012 is a great vintage for someone just getting into Chablis. The wines are classic, yet giving, drinking wonderfully young, but with nice aging potential. I’ve purchased a lot of Fevre Chablis from PC. Sometimes they have it in stock. When buying on pre-arrival, I’ve found the wait for Fevre Chablis has usually been tolerable, YMMV.
Noah, you’re in DC…just ask Warren/Tim to pick you out a couple they have in stock.