Simonnet-Febvre : Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2020 from Simonnet-Febvre

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a pale yellow hue with delicate green highlights, typical of a cool-climate Chardonnay.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet reveals fine complexity with floral notes of honeysuckle and acacia, accompanied by white-fruit aromas such as peach and nectarine. Citrus nuances, notably lemon and lime, gradually unfold. The mineral dimension expresses itself with intensity through notes reminiscent of flint, chalk, and damp stone.

Palate

The attack is lively and precise, driven by a refreshing, lemony acidity. The palate reveals a medium body with a fine, well-rounded texture. The mineral structure forms the wine’s backbone, creating a characteristic mouthwatering sensation. Citrus flavors blend harmoniously with the terroir’s limestone expression. The finish stands out for its remarkable length and aromatic persistence, leaving a mineral, saline impression that lingers for several seconds after tasting.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Chablis Premier Cru pairs perfectly with seafood, notably oysters and raw shellfish. It also elegantly accompanies grilled or poached fish, poultry in a light sauce, as well as a green-vegetable risotto. Goat cheeses and pressed-curd cheeses also make excellent pairings.

A fresh, beautifully precise Chablis Premier Cru

The estate

Founded in 1840 by Jean Febvre, a cooper from Montbard, the House of Simonnet-Febvre immediately specialized in crafting sparkling wines. The company took its current name in 1894, following the marriage of Mélanie Febvre and Amédée Simonnet. Acquired in 2003 by Maison Louis Latour, Simonnet-Febvre has been led by Paul Espitalié since 2019. The estate owns around 4.5 hectares of vines in the Chablis appellation and 3.5 hectares in Premier Cru Mont de Milieu, as well as parcels in Grand Cru. Simonnet-Febvre remains the only house in Chablis to have perpetuated since its creation the tradition of producing sparkling wines using the traditional method, a distinctive feature unique to the region.

The vineyard

The Vaillons climat lies on the left bank of the Serein, benefiting from a south and southeast exposure that encourages optimal sunshine, particularly in the morning. The soils are composed mainly of Kimmeridgian limestone and Portlandian marl-limestone, rich in marine fossils dating from the Upper Jurassic. This geological composition gives the wines their hallmark mineral and saline character. The moderate slopes and shallow soils, sometimes clayey at the surface, impose controlled water stress on the vines, promoting grape concentration. The Vaillons climat, whose name derives from the Latin "vallis" meaning small valley, is one of the seventeen main climats of the Chablis Premier Cru appellation and covers around 129 hectares.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage is considered exceptional for the Burgundy region. The year benefited from favorable ripening conditions, yielding concentrated, ripe grapes while preserving the freshness and essential acidity that define the character of Chablis wines. Yields proved relatively modest, at around fifty-eight hectoliters per hectare for this cuvée, ensuring fine aromatic concentration.

Vinification and aging

The Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2020 was vinified entirely in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with fermentation temperatures maintained between 17 and 21 °C. This neutral-environment vinification preserves the pure expression of the terroir and the grape variety, without any oaky influence. The wine was then aged for twelve months in stainless-steel tanks on fine lees, without racking or systematic lees stirring, allowing a natural, gradual extraction of beneficial compounds from the yeasts. This method brings aromatic complexity and a silky texture while maintaining the purity and precision that are characteristic of the house philosophy.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay, the only grape variety authorized in the Chablis appellation. The vines used for this cuvée have an average age of around thirty-five years.