TN: 2005 La Chablisienne Chablis La Sereine (France, Burgundy, Chablis)

WINE TALK
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  • 2005 La Chablisienne Chablis La Sereine - France, Burgundy, Chablis (10/14/2009)
    Lots of mineral character on the nose and palate. Palate picks up on the second night showing a bigger lemon juice profile with a touch of a sweet character up front that really sets it off. Plenty of tart acids that linger. I’m thinking best in another year or two but very good now. Great value.

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Another Garagiste buy. For $20 I can drink something like this all the time.

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Hi Chris,

I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this wine and for two reasons. The first, and you may already know this about La Chablisiènne so forgive me if it’s redundant for you but they reportedly produce between one out of every three to four bottles of Chablis sold each year! That’s a LOT of Chablis and yet the quality is generally quite good. However, because they market so much wine, they, by design, produce a variety of styles, some of it a bit too woody for my tastes. However, many wines see no wood at all so it’s just a matter of choosing to suit one’s tastes as I’m generally favorably impressed given the sheer scale of what they do. And, as you note, the wines usually sell for more than reasonable prices. In short, I think it’s a pretty respectable operation, especially when you contrast the quality they produce with many of their counterparts in other regions. It’s not always great but then what négociant operation is?

The second reason that I was happy to see your note is that I am personally a huge fan of Chablis so I’m always happy to see positive notes; in fact, to celebrate getting the new Issue out the door, I enjoyed two different Chablis from the 2000 vintage (the better wines are getting close to being ready though I will wait another year or two before really opening them with abandon). The price/quality ratio is undeniable and when you find the best examples, I just love the taste of the ocean delivered with such controlled austerity and precision. And again, when the wines are good, they arguably deliver the underlying sense of terroir better than any other region. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that Chablis offers a unique aromatic and flavor profile in a world awash in mostly vapid white wine so ‘good on ya’ as they say.

WIth kind regards,

Allen

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Allen,

I think you’ll find many a Chablis fan on this forum. Even our famous ‘bacon fat’ winemakers (the Cabots) have recently discovered the pure joy of Chablis.

Cris, you suck, for this is another Garagiste buy that seems to have eluded me. I end up buying all varieties of Garagiste offerings, but most often seem to miss grower Champagnes and Chablis…

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Thanks for the information Allen. I have seen a lot of variability with this producer. And as you note, this bottle did not seem to show any signs of wood.

Lower end Chablis has been a new focus for me especially with the 07’s showing so much minerality. Terrific wines under $30 that trump whites from most anywhere else for my palate.

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Chris,
Great note. Having been bitten by the Chablis bug for about two years now, I thoroughly enjoy reading notes on the $15-$30 Chablis. When you find one that you enjoy (not hard with the 07’s as they overflow with minerality), it’s quite the coup for the $$. Thisnote has fired me up to drink one tonight! Cheers…

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Good note and informative thread, Cris. Love Chablis!

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I’ve done well, so far, with La Chablisienne…love the wines!

  • 2000 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (9/11/2009)
    Pulled the capsule off, and it was sticky with dried wine, and had that dreaded burnt caramel, dried oxidized wine smell on it, as well as the neck and cork. Oh Oh…please please don’t be oxidized! Pulled the cork…smelled of ripe oxidized fruit…damn! Cleaned the neck off, and stuck in the fridge for cooling…hoping for the best. As soon as I poured the wine in the glass, and saw the clear brite green color…then smelled into the glass…I was jumping for joy!!!
    Brilliant shiny gold, green tinge in color. Full nose of crushed seashells, honey spice, lemon, smokey flint, chalky minerals galor! WOW! Not explosive nose, but it’s all there. In the mouth, super creamy smooth, yet cut with minerals and citrus. Perfect Chablis characters of that seashell/lemon/stones/smokey flint…as well as pure florals, touch vanilla oak, some tobacco spice, perfect melony fruit. Maybe to some of you Burg experts…a good wine, but not as grand as Grand Cru can be. For me, with my limited GC experience, but my newly found obsession for Chablis, the love of La Chablisienne in general…this is a revelation!!! I am thrilled to have an older White Burg, that isn’t premoxed, VERY reasonably priced(especially what I just paid), taste this good! My obsession has deepened even more. What a wine! (95 pts.)
  • 2004 La Chablisienne Chablis Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Chablis (8/5/2009)
    Either I’m very easy to please…or this is a KILLER qpr Chablis??? Very correct lemon/lime acidity, sea shells, minerals, yeast dough, slight white honey creme, floral flowers. SUPER bright fruit of green apples, melon, sweet white peaches…crisp and cut nicely…complexed sea water funk, salt rock spice, celery stick. For $15, and absolute steal imo! Satisfies the Chablis craving on the cheap. (92 pts.)
  • 2002 La Chablisienne Chablis 1er Cru Grande Cuvée - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (7/6/2009)
    Biggest regret of my wine life…not “loading up” last year on this Costco closeout for $7. If I only knew then about Chablis, what I kind of know now??? My last bottle…such a beautifully correct tasting Chablis. Seashell, green apples, lemon citrus acidity, minerals galor…all well balanced in a clean and refreshing package. Also has a nice yeast bread dough to it…with a spritz of lemon/lime. The perfect taste, not overwhelming sea-ness and funk, you sometimes get with Chablis. And to think…$7…SOAB! (93 pts.)
  • 2004 La Chablisienne Chablis Cuvée LC - France, Burgundy, Chablis (6/19/2009)
    Very correct and tasty Chablis! Has the lemon and stones…flint, apple core, oyster shell, some chalkiness, white honey. Very nice cut with the citrus, some creaminess with melons as well. Not the most complex Chablis…but satisfies that salty lemon and stones cravin! Great qpr at $15! (91 pts.)

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