Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2018 750ml

The 2018 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru is lucid silver in hue. The bouquet is not as immediate as Bessin’s other 2018, taking its time to unfold, revealing citrus peel, oyster shell and dew-speckled green apple aromas that are beautifully defined. The palate is succinctly balanced, effortlessly carrying the weight of this Valmur. Wonderful intensity on the finish, yet linear and steely. You might deduce this to come from a much cooler growing season than it does. Top class – a Chablis that totally transcends the vintage.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Chablis
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White
• Alcohol by Vol: 13.5%

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.