Garnier et Fils Chablis 2023

Domaine Garnier et Fils is a family estate in Chablis, the northernmost outpost of white Burgundy in France, where Chardonnay takes on a leaner, more mineral form than further south. The vineyards sit on Kimmeridgian marl, a limestone soil rich in fossil oyster shells that is central to the flinty, saline signature of Chablis; the cool, semi-continental climate ripens the grapes slowly and preserves the sharp acidity that gives the wine its cut. This bottling is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel with no oak, a style meant to show the fruit and the soil without any wood, keeping the wine pale, taut and transparent. The colour is pale straw with green glints. The nose is restrained and precise, with lemon, green apple and white flowers over a chalky, gun-flint note. The palate is dry and tight, driven by fresh acidity and a stony, faintly almond-like finish with a saline edge. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees in a white wine glass. It is the classic partner for oysters and other raw shellfish, and works equally with grilled fish and fresh goat cheese.