Few wines capture the purity and unmistakable character of Chablis quite like Francine Bachelier's "Réserve du Sanglier." Together with her husband, Olivier Savary, Francine represents generations of winemaking tradition in northern Burgundy. While the couple is best known for Domaine Savary, the family estate they have operated since the 1980s, a small selection of their finest vineyard lots is reserved each year for bottling under Francine's own label. These limited-production wines offer a particularly compelling expression of the family's traditional approach to Chablis, where exceptional vineyard sites, careful farming, and minimal intervention take precedence over elaborate winemaking.
Sourced from the family's estate vineyards in Maligny, just north of the village of Chablis, "Réserve du Sanglier" takes its name from the wild boars that roam the surrounding vineyards, occasionally helping themselves to the ripening grapes before harvest. Crafted entirely from Chardonnay, the wine is fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel, spending six months on its lees to develop texture and complexity without sacrificing freshness. The absence of oak allows the region's celebrated limestone terroir to shine, delivering the remarkable clarity and mineral precision that define classic Chablis.
The 2025 vintage opens with vibrant aromas of green apple, ripe lemon, white flowers, and crushed oyster shells, followed by subtle notes of flint, sea salt, and wet limestone. On the palate, bright citrus and orchard fruit meet a beautifully textured core, supported by refreshing acidity and a long, distinctly saline finish. This is Chablis in its purest form: crisp, mineral-driven, and effortlessly elegant. Equally compelling alongside freshly shucked oysters, delicate seafood, or lemon-roasted chicken, Francine Bachelier's "Réserve du Sanglier" remains an exceptional introduction to the extraordinary quality and value of traditional, small-production white Burgundy.
Why You'll Love It
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A Hidden Chablis Gem: Produced by Francine Bachelier and Olivier Savary of Domaine Savary, with select lots reserved each year for bottling under Francine's name.
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Pure, Unoaked Chardonnay: Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, with six months on the lees to develop texture while preserving Chablis' signature freshness and minerality.
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Classic Chablis Terroir: Sourced from estate vineyards near Maligny, showcasing vibrant citrus, crisp orchard fruit, flinty minerality, and unmistakable oyster-shell salinity.
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Exceptional White Burgundy Value: Small-production, traditionally crafted Chablis offering remarkable purity and character without the premium associated with more famous Burgundy appellations.
How to Serve It
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Temperature: Serve chilled between 46°F and 50°F to highlight its crisp acidity, delicate aromatics, and mineral precision.
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Glassware: Use a traditional white Burgundy glass or universal white wine stem to capture its citrus, floral, and saline nuances.
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Decanting: No decanting necessary. Allow the wine to open naturally in the glass as it warms slightly.
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Food Pairings: Fresh oysters, steamed mussels, pan-seared scallops, goat cheese, or classic roast chicken with lemon and herbs.