Vintage Character 2024 was a historically difficult year in Chablis, with floods, excess rain, frost and hail, and the crop was tiny. Careful selection in the vineyard and cellar was the main tool, and the best wines are classic and fresh. In 2024, the Saint Bris from Domaine des Malandes reflects that season. Saint-Bris is the only Burgundy appellation for Sauvignon Blanc, in the Yonne near Auxerre, a few kilometres from Chablis. A village wine comes from vineyards within a single commune and carries the name of that commune or site.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing Grapefruit, lemon, green apple and a touch of fresh herbs lead the nose. It is dry and medium-bodied, with high acidity. The palate is crisp and zesty, with bright acidity and a clean finish. It is meant to be enjoyed young and fresh. Prawns, steamed fish and goat's cheese salads suit it. Serve at about 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, and avoid over-chilling so the aromas can open. Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic, high-acid grape that keeps its zest in cooler or higher sites. It also suits a glass at the start of a meal, since the acidity wakes up the palate. A white with this profile shows best slightly cool rather than ice-cold, when its texture and mineral detail come through.
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 a still white appellation, recognised in 2003. Lyne Marchive's son and daughter, Richard and Amandine, have since joined the running of the estate.