Jean-Claude Bessin has been in the business since 1992 when he took over from his father-in-law who supplied grapes to the cooperative, and has 12 hectares in very good vineyards. New producer to me despite drinking Chablis for decades.
Bessin’s plot in Valmur are situated in the upper and most chalky part of Valmur, and this is a brilliant Chablis. Light greenish-golden in color and a nose with green apples and herbs, with development in the glass also discreet notes of lime and mint.
Great concentration in the mouth with great length and considerable freshness and firmness in the finish. Mineral and rocky finish with hints of herbs and mint, elegant and well-balanced. Persuasive. 92 p
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Thanks for the note. Sounds good, I went through a little Bessin phase- A number of 14s. I think it was Envoyer that was pushing. Very good wines-slightly under the radar- or just not flashy.
I just don’t buy with regularity any longer.
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Love this wine - in more recent vintages, to me, these belong amongst the top ranks in Chablis…the 2019 and 2020 Valmur were both v compelling wines when I’ve opened them over the last few months. I have less experience with earlier vintages but glad to hear it showed well.
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Yes, thanks for this note, Odd–and to others for their counterpoint thoughts. This is the rare producer where it was a tale of two cities for me on one wine, the 2007 Valmur. I rarely have this much divergence on impression. My first taste in 2015
I’ll let the server’s “ohmigod, I see why you didn’t want to share any” comment stand as the intro for this, which couldn’t have been in a better spot to drink. Chalk, lime pie, lemongrass and seashell all beguile in the nose. The palate is even better, lemon and lime with just-right light mineral chatting up a storm and yet all in the most civilized and smooth way. This is almost luxuriously elegant and smooth and a wonderful Chablis. I like Valmur anyway, but had never had anything by this producer and was not disappointed.
Then tried again in 2017
A nice bring from Jeff, quiet nuzzie, but the chalk and lemon and apple peel are there. This is in no way premoxed, which is great since I love Chablis in this vintage. That said, while this has tartness and acidity, it lacks real finish or the mineral aspect and authority that I would expect to see in Valmur. I don’t think this was an off-bottle, but nevertheless a slightly disappointing showing.