Domaine Gruhier Petit Chablis AOC 2023, Burgundy, Organic

Domaine Gruhier Petit Chablis is a certified organic Chardonnay from Dominique Gruhier, whose domaine sits in Épineuil, a short drive north-east of Chablis. Petit Chablis is the youngest and freshest expression of the Chablis vineyard, typically planted on the higher, more exposed plateaux around the classic slopes, and it is made to capture bright fruit and that cool-climate Chablis bite rather than weight or oak. As with all his wines, Dominique farms organically, works with wild yeasts and keeps intervention to a minimum.

Expect a pale, bright wine with fresh lemon, green apple and a hint of white flowers on the nose. The palate is crisp and lively, with a steely, chalky minerality and a clean, refreshing finish that makes it an easy glass to enjoy on its own.

Serve well chilled at 8–10°C as an aperitif, or with oysters, mussels, prawns, smoked salmon, fish and chips or a light goat’s cheese tart. Domaine Gruhier Petit Chablis is made to be enjoyed young, at its best within 2–3 years of the vintage, while its fruit and freshness are at their most vibrant.

Domaine Dominique Gruhier lies in Épineuil, in the Tonnerrois of northern Burgundy, a short drive north-east of Chablis and on the same Kimmeridgian limestone. Dominique, who grew up in nearby Tonnerre, began buying vines here around 1990, and the domaine is housed in Le Petit Quincy, a monastic grange built in 1212 by the Cistercian monks of the Abbaye de Quincy. He started farming organically in 2003, and the estate, around 25 hectares of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a little Pinot Gris, is certified organic by Ecocert. Dominique vinifies parcels separately to bring out the best sites, uses wild yeasts, older and larger barrels and minimal sulphur, and handles Pinot Noir gently to keep its natural elegance.