Tasted in Beines with Paul Gagnepain, 17 January 2024.

Domaine de la Côte de Fasse
(G.A.E.C. Gagnepain)
2 Voie du Gain
89800 Beines
Tel: +33 3 86 42 46 85
Domaine Instagram
www.chablis-cotedefasse.fr

Paul on his last vintages:
“I was really happy with 2023 – we had a good year. 2022 was a good volume and the year was quite comfortable in the vines. The qualities were good in both cases but these two good volume vintages have people second-guessing price decreases so they are holding off on buying – perhaps waiting to see if there is frost in a couple of months! The 2022s tasted very easily right from the start – which helped as there was so little wine in 21 – I tend to think that the 23s may be similar.”

The wines…

A fine ranges of 22s – but it’s the rosé that beguiled today!

All the wines are sealed with DIAM – 3, or 5 for the 1er:

2022 Petit Chablis
That’s a pretty nose with some floral accents. Nice shape in the mouth, a faint richness cushions the structure – easy, tasty wine!

2022 Chablis
Not always the same blend of parcels it depends on the vintage and the timing of the harvest for particular parcels.
More salinity to this obviously mineral nose. A little frame of faintly tannic texture but a fine and direct intensity of flavour, faintly floral – that’s not a big wine but it’s proper Chablis and delicious!

2022 Chablis 1er Vau de Vey
A little extra structural impression from this mineral nose. More herb and cooler flavour over the palate – properly mineral finishing – with intensity – this is very good!

2022 Chablis Cuvée Paul
A small parcel next to the 1er Côte de Troesmes (Beauroy) – all barrel elevage – mainly older.
The nose starts rounder but not obviously oaked – air brings out the barrel references. This has fine, open, shape in the mouth – quite fluid and saline in style. The oak is quite modest but I’d still wait a year or two before opening to lessen its presence. It’s a lovely wine.