Domaine Christian Moreau Pere et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2011 750ml

The 2011 Chablis Les Clos comes across as rather big in this vintage. A broad-shouldered frame houses rich fruit in this powerful, intense wine. The 2011 is intensely mineral-driven and focused, more so than the 2010, which is surprising. It is likely to require a measure of patience, but it is quite pretty. The 2011 has a pure energy and tension that is missing in the 2010, at least at this stage. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Chablis
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

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.