Garnier et Fils 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2023

Domaine Garnier et Fils farm in Chablis, the northern outpost of Burgundy sitting between Paris and Beaune, close to Champagne. This wine comes from Mont de Milieu, a well-regarded Premier Cru vineyard whose south-facing slope catches many more hours of sun than flatter sites, ripening the Chardonnay more fully while retaining acidity. Chablis owes its character to Kimmeridgian soil, a limestone and clay bedrock full of fossilised marine sediment that gives the wine its stony, saline signature. The cool continental climate makes for a long ripening season and a wine of 13% alcohol with firm natural acidity. Ageing is in barrel, which adds a touch of texture and a light toasted note, but the winemaking is restrained so the terroir stays in the foreground. The estate is farmed sustainably. The colour is pale gold with green tints. The nose is precise, with lemon and green apple over white flowers, a hint of almond and a struck-flint minerality, and the palate is taut and dry, the citrus fruit carried by a saline, chalky line to a long finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white Burgundy glass.