Chablis "Croix aux Moines" - 2023

"The entire production is of impeccable quality, especially the entry-level wines. Certified organic since 2014, this estate has never shone as brightly as in the last, remarkably successful vintages." Le guide des meilleurs vins de France 2020, La Revue du Vin de France

It is in Poinchy, next to the commune of Chablis, in Burgundy, that Denis and Isabelle Pommier decided to create their winery in 1990. They started by cultivating 2 hectares and now own 20 hectares. In 1994, their first cuvée was produced. In 2005, they invested in a brand new thermo-regulated vat room and in 2008, the pressing part was also replaced. In order to respect the quality requirements they have imposed on themselves, Isabelle and Denis Pommier obtained organic certification in 2014, after years of working with respect for the environment and the specificities of each appellation. In 2018, they obtained their first star.

At the Domaine de Denis Pommier, the harvest is done by hand and each parcel has its own moment according to the maturity of its bunches. Then, the grapes arrive from the vine to the press on an elevator sorting belt so that no human hand touches the bunches until pressing. The whole vinification process is carried out using yeasts specific to the grapes, without any outside help. The wine is matured for 18 to 24 months in barrels. The time spent in vats allows the aromas of this very specific terroir to magnify. Indeed, the vines that grow in the Chablis appellation offer outstanding white wines for tasting. As in connection with other ages, their roots meet a Kimmeridgian soil dating from the end of the Jurassic Period (-70'000). Rich in solidified limestone, this layer is also composed of soft clays containing prehistoric fossils (including oysters, ammonites and other marine organisms). It is certainly for this reason that Chardonnay grows wonderfully in such bitter soils, revealing a minerality typical of Chablis.

Domaine Denis Pommier covers four appellations d'origine contrôlée: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premiers Crus and Bourgogne Pinot Noir. The grape variety of the red is 100% Pinot Noir and the white is 100% Chardonnay.

The Chablis Croix aux Moines is matured in wood for 18 months, which gives it amplitude and length, contrasting with the usual impetuosity of the Chablis. Notes of lime blossom, hazelnut and yellow fruit fill the palate, with a complex and intense finish.

The wines of Domaine Denis Pommier are real little nuggets, to be discovered separately. The prices remaining soft, they will accompany marvellously a dish of scallops, sushi, a piece of goat cheese and especially asparagus !