Tasted in Chablis with Marine Race, 09 March 2023.
Domaine Laurence et Denis Race
15 Rue de la Croix Duché
89800 Chablis
Tel: +33 3 86 42 45 87
www.chablisrace.com
More reports with Domaine Laurence et Denis Race
Marine on 2022:
“What a relief – we started the year once more with frost and had losses but the last parcels brought some volume – the cellar’s certainly not full but it’s in much better shape.”
Marine on 2021:
“Catastrophe – the lowest volume here since 2003. But the quality is super, we can find the real Chablis in the glass. For over a year the allocations have been a nightmare – people not seeming to understand that there is no wine – we are lucky that we were already applying the brake to the sales of the 2020s because we could see what was coming. It’s calming a little now!”
The wines…
A super successful vintage chez Race – all the wines are delicious but different from each other – many are excellent!
In 2021 they harvested their first grand cru grapes since replanting – but only 200kg. Maybe next year they will have something commercial – but the 2021 volume is so low that it will be kept for them. Since 2009 with DIAM for the Petit Chablis and since 2014 for all their cuvées:
2021 Petit Chablis
Next to Montmains a bit more than a hectare close to Butteaux. It’s that last of the stock – ‘There will be none in April that’s sure!’
A modest but airy and attractive width – very pretty. There’s good intensity here, and the finish is super – that’s beauty. Simply an excellent PC!
2021 Chablis
You can already sense the extra size and structure on the nose. Direct, some tension – growing in intensity – keep this wine another year because of the intensity of juicy citrus in the middle and finishing flavours – super wine!
2021 Chablis 1er Vaillons
Hmm, airy – wider, more floral – there’s extra light here. Beautifully mineral – incisive wine – growing in intensity but never severe. The flavour is full of small floral complexities. A simply beautiful wine – really some finesse here.
2021 Chablis 1er Montmains
Narrower but fine – not the same impact but there’s extra depth. More stony, a little more strict – the intensity is palpable. Proper structure here but nothing hard. Simply excellent wine. Keep 2-3 years before attacking – yum! The finish is a beauty – widening over the palate…
2021 Chablis 1er Mont de Milieu
A fine but clearly more compact nose – almost a little sherbet to add to the yellow citrus. Direct, silky and with proper concentration – finishing with an extra burst of energy. A composed, mineral wine – and it will be super!
2021 Chablis 1er Côte de Cuissey
Vines in Courgis.
Larger scale, still quite airy. Supple, silky, rounder but the core of this wine is still direct and mineral. Then broadening out over the palate – less mineral than the last (two) but more complex – a very different style but an absolutely delicious one.
2021 Chablis 1er Montmains Vieilles-Vignes
From 60 year-old vines, in Butteaux.
Hmm – wider with a menthol character to this too – very different. In the mouth too – the impressive scale is etched with some minty complexity – but not the green of gentian/pyrazine, nor mixed green herb – just a little mint and it’s very attractive. The finish lovely again.