Vintage Character 2023 delivered one of the largest crops on record in Chablis, in places larger than any recent year. The summer was rainy and gave juicy grapes, then a sunny, hot end to the season ripened the fruit. The wines are generous and balanced, with quantity and quality arriving together for once. In 2023, the Chablis from Domaine des Malandes reflects that season. Chablis village wine comes from Chardonnay grown on Kimmeridgian limestone, a soil laid down about 150 million years ago. A village wine comes from vineyards within a single commune and carries the name of that commune or site.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing Lemon, green apple and pear lead, with a clear mineral and oyster-shell edge. It is dry and medium-to-full-bodied, with high acidity. The palate is crisp and dry, with high acidity and a saline, chalky finish. With a few years of age it picks up honey, hazelnut and dried citrus. Oysters, steamed fish and scallops are classic partners. Serve at about 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, and avoid over-chilling so the aromas can open. Chardonnay is a flexible grape that reflects its site, from the steely edge of Chablis to the richness of the Côte de Beaune. It also suits a glass at the start of a meal, since the acidity wakes up the palate.
Winery Background Domaine des Malandes was created in 1972 by Lyne Marchive, whose father, André Tremblay, understood the potential of the Grand Cru vineyards at a time when most producers were selling these frost-prone parcels. The family estate farms about 29 hectares in Chablis and is known for freshness, finesse and minerality from Kimmeridgian soils. Guénolé Breteaudeau has made the wines since 2006, using oak in a delicate and measured way to support Marchive's vision of pure, precise and elegant Chablis. This wine is the estate's core wine, showing the appellation's clean, chalky style.