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Etienne Boileau, Chablis 1er Cru, Montée De Tonnerre

Burgundy, France 2013 (750mL)
$32.00
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Etienne Boileau, Chablis 1er Cru, Montée De Tonnerre

If there is one Premier Cru in Chablis that stands at the top, it is without a doubt, Montée de Tonnerre. The wines of this famed vineyard can easily garner over $150 when produced by the famous Domaine Raveneau. However, there are a tiny number of producers that can rival the very best at much more affordable prices.
This 2013 Etienne Boileau Montée de Tonnerre reveals focused minerality, freshness, and expressive concentration that brings sublime pleasure. At this price, you will be hard-pressed to find a better Chablis on the market. If you collect White Burgundy or just want to drink it, you do not want to miss this.
Perpetually touted by critics as Chablis’ greatest Premier Cru, Montée de Tonnerre appropriately translates to, “Thunder Mountain,” which is fitting for this crisp, dense, and complex nectar of the gods. Perched on the right bank of the River Serein, just below the famous unbroken strip of Chablis Grand Crus, Montée de Tonnerre is nestled across a slender ravine from the famous Les Blanchots. Thanks to this ideal locale, this special pocket of Chablis enjoys comparable aspect, sun exposure and the rich Kimmeridgian limestone that garners Grand Cru Chablis’ loyal following among sommeliers and Chablis lovers around the world. The complex soil here is comprised of Kimmeridgian soil, dating back to the Upper Jurassic, as well as Argilo-Calcaire, which consists of limestone, clay and fossilized oyster shell, which aids in giving premium Chablis their signature minerality and inimitable flavor profile.
 
Etienne Boileau credits his treasured 2.13-hectare parcel on the slopes of Montée de Tonnerre for the superior character and structure of this special wine. In crafting this beauty, he ferments with selected yeasts and initiates malolactic fermentation under temperature control. The wine is aged in 80% stainless steel and 20% French oak, the newest of which is a minimum of four years old. Afterward elevage, the wine is treated for tartaric precipitation then bottled. The result is a wine of crystalline minerality and laser-like acidity balanced by rich concentration – in other words, everything we crave in Chablis.
 
This wine exhibits a pale yellow straw core moving to green reflections on the rim. The mineral-driven nose is dominated by crushed stones and oyster shells over a stunning background of white peach pit, green plums, lemon blossoms, honey and green tea powder. The medium-bodied palate boasts fierce minerality with perfect freshness resulting from the high acid, alongside incredible concentration, delivering what I consider the perfect example of Chablis at this age. This wine is delicious now, but it should keep beautifully for decades in the cellar. If you decide to enjoy this bottle soon, serve at 55-60 degrees in large Burgundy stems. Do not serve from cold from the refrigerator or the wine will be closed. As the wine warms and receives enough air, it will reach its most expressive as it comes into balance and fills out in texture. For a pairing worthy of a Montée de Tonnerre, serve this Grilled Sea Bass encased in Fig Leaves. Enjoy!
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Country
France
Region
Burgundy
Sub-Region
FranceChablis
Soil
Limestone
Farming
Organic
Blend
Chardonnay
Alcohol
12.5
OAK
Neutral

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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