Tasted with Thomas Ventoura in Fontenay-près-Chablis, 30 January 2024.
Domaine Ventoura
3 Rue des Puits
89800 Fontenay-près-Chablis
Tel: +33 3 86 42 19 39
www.chablis-ventoura.com
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More reports with Domaine Ventoura
Thomas on 2023:
“I’m organic now – first certified in 2023. We had plenty of rain but in the end it turned out fine. Of course, we had some volume and one or two fermentations haven’t finished their alcoholic fermentations yet – but others were fast. Decent degrees, not too high. Will it be a vintage like 2018(?) which started fine but you can sense the dilution a little now. We’ll have to see.”
Thomas on 2022:
“Of course, I’m happy. I had some VCI too in the Petit Chablis though not in the Chablis or 1ers. There were some losses due to April’s frosts but they were more than compensated for in other areas – the quality looks very good too – the fermentations went very quickly – all was done in January – also the barrels were all done. The bottling was done in November. It was a simple year in the vines and we started to harvest on the 31st August – harvesting in August for only the second time at the domaine – the last time was in 2020.”
The wines…
I haven’t singled out any particular wine – but all of these are really super and delicious. I’d be patient with a couple due to the oak that they presented today – but all are just soooo yum!
All are sealed with DIAM; DIAM3 for the Petit Chablis and DIAM5 “I never had a problem so I’ve no reason to change and I can also reduce the amount of sulfur I use at bottling time.”
2022 Petit Chablis
Two parcels in Fontenay. Only tank elevage. Now AB
Not a large nose but a very pretty one with an accent of fine flowers – bottled in June. Nicely shaped, a bit of melting structure and properly mineral and faintly saline in the finish. Super PC!
2022 Chablis
All tank elevage, same as the PC, also bottled June.
An elegant width of citrus – airy, perhaps a little lime complexity too. Larger scale but there’s a small cushion to this shape – this isn’t a hard or structural wine – but the core is that of Chablis. Larger scale in the finish – really persistent. Lovely wine – yum!
2022 Chablis 1er Fourchaume
A single parcel of 1 ha in Vaupulins. This bottled in November. Fermented in tank but the elevage was in 50% oak – 228-s.
A tighter nose but there’s some yellow citrus depth. Vibrant, full of energy – I suspect a decent level of CO2 too – but it becomes ever-more silken and wide. A super finishing width – the oak is very discreet – I could drink this already today!
2022 Chablis 1er Mont de Milieu
A long-term contract. Here with fermentations in tank but all the subsequent elevage in 500-litre barrels.
The nose is rounded by a little oak. Hmm – mouth-filing – impressive volume and concentration – still silky. Lots of finishing sweetness and a wall of flavour – but much here is barrel flavour today. I’ll wait 5 years before returning – it has concentration, texture and energy today…
2022 Chablis Les Preuses
All was done in barrel – it’s also in bottle now.
A breadth of aroma, framed by some sweet oak. But here there is a fine shape in the mouth, mobile, concentrated, a wine with direction and fine texture. Almost a fluidity despite some generosity. That’s a sumptuous but never overly generous wine – class! Wait 3 years in the fist instance – it’s really a super wine. Very persistent and wonderfully harmonious. Simply excellent Preuses but be patient!