Marie-Ange Robin had a successful life as a Parisian art dealer. Then, in 2015, her father passed away, leaving behind a Chablis domaine legendary for its extraordinary collection of old-vine parcels, but a winery not necessarily known for quality. She came home and changed everything. Her father, Guy, had the foresight to assemble these plots in the 1950s and '60s when others were abandoning Chablis after devastating frosts. He refused to pull up the old vines, securing a viticultural treasure that included a prime piece of the Grand Cru Blanchot. Marie-Ange inherited that treasure and, with a new focus on quality, transformed the domaine into one of Chablis' most exciting producers.
Blanchot is the most unique of Chablis' seven Grand Crus. As the southeasternmost vineyard, it faces the morning sun, a gentle exposure that ripens the Chardonnay grapes slowly and preserves a piercing, electric acidity. The soil here is pure Kimmeridgian millefeuille—a "thousand-layer" cake of white clay and fossilized oyster shells laid down 150 million years ago. Guy Robin's parcel contains vines planted in the 1950s, now over 70 years old. These "vieilles vignes" have roots that dig deep into that ancient seabed, pulling up a profound, stony minerality that younger vines simply cannot match. This terroir is what gives Blanchot its signature elegance and floral, ethereal character.
Marie-Ange's approach is to do as little as possible to get in the way of this incredible terroir. The fruit from these old vines is hand-harvested, fermented with only indigenous yeasts, and aged for just under a year in used barrels that impart texture without oaky flavors. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering, delivering the purest expression of this Grand Cru site. The result is a wine that speaks with the beautiful voice of the earth, a direct transmission of Kimmeridgian limestone through Chardonnay. With the 2023 vintage being her last, these bottles are not just wine; they are the final chapter of a remarkable story.
Why You'll Love It
•The End of An Era: When Marie-Ange bottles her final 2023 vintage, these wines become instant collectibles. This is your last chance to own a piece of the Robin legacy.
•Grand Cru Pedigree: From 70-year-old vines in Blanchot, the most elegant and mineral-driven of the seven Chablis Grand Crus, this is a world-class expression of Chardonnay.
•Restaurant Credibility: Guy Robin is a go-to source for top wine-savvy restaurants like Le Pigeon in Portland, La Toque in Napa, and the Michelin 2-star Harbor House Inn.
How to Serve It
•Temperature: Pull the cork at 50°F and serve in Burgundy stems to allow the complex, stony aromatics to unfold.
•Pairing: This is a classic pairing for plump oysters, grilled shrimp, or anything involving butter and shellfish, but it has the depth to stand alongside roasted chicken or veal.
•Aging: The 2023 vintage is singing now, but its Grand Cru structure and acidity mean it will evolve beautifully for 15-20 years, developing profound notes of field mushroom and sea spray.
