2024 Christophe et Fils Chablis Vieilles Vignes

Sébastien Christophe’s "Vieilles Vignes" represents a major step up in his lineup, sourced from a prized parcel of old vines planted by his grandfather. These deeper-rooting, old vines tap directly into the bedrock of Fontenay-près-Chablis, yielding a tiny crop of highly concentrated fruit. It is a bottling that insiders constantly hunt for because it routinely outperforms many producers' premier crus, showing off the serious side of the estate's old-vine heritage.

The 2024 vintage was a cold, lower-yielding year that naturally packed the grapes with immense flavor and a very classic flavour profile. To handle the extra muscle and depth of this old-vine fruit, Sébastien ages a portion of this cuvée in older oak barrels alongside stainless steel. This subtle touch of wood coaxes out a much broader, richer texture and lets the wine sit on its lees without ever losing its sharp limestone focus.

The nose opens with an intense mix of lemon curd, yellow orchard fruit, and a distinct, savory gunflint reduction. The palate is noticeably broader and more physical than the regular village bottling, carrying a deep, concentrated weight that coats the mouth before a wave of briny, oyster-shell acidity sweeps in to clean it up. The finish is remarkably long and savory, leaving a persistent chalky grip that demands food.

This is a brilliant, layered old-vine Chablis that brings grander scale and texture to the glass while keeping its feet firmly planted in Kimmeridgian stone.