Sébastien Christophe et Fils Montée de Tonnerre - Chablis Premier Cru 2023

Sébastien Christophe is a one-man show in Fyé, a tiny commune nestled in Chablis. The domaine is young, especially by Burgundy standards, at just over 20 years-old. After graduating from enology school, Sébastien returned to Chablis, where he inherited a half-acre of Petit Chablis. Slowly, vine by vine, Sébastien built upon his initial holding until eventually he amassed 9 hectares of village-level Chablis and small plots in some of the top Premier Cru sites: Fourchaume, Montée de Tonnerre and Mont de Milieu. He farms sustainably, hand-harvests, and ferments with native yeast in mostly stainless steel, except for small amounts of old wood in the Premier Crus.

Sébastien's Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre is his flagship wine, showing the impeccable class and balance for which this venerable vineyard is famous. All grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in 80% stainless steel tanks and the remainder in 228-liter oak barrels (new, 1, 2 and 3 year-old barrels; the total new wood is approximately 7%), then aged for 12 months in the same containers. Mid-lemon color with fabulous aromas of rocky mineral notes, flint, oyster shell, sea spray and citrus. The palate is richly textured, though sharp and refreshing with incredible complexity of flavor and a long, persistent finish. This is a truly a masterful Premier Cru Chablis that highlights Sébastien's farming and winemaking skills, as well as the terroir of Montée de Tonnerre.