Chablis is the most northern wine area of Burgundy and it is located about 200 kilometers north-west (about 125 miles) from Côte d'Or. Paradoxically, Chablis is closer to Champagne than to the main area of burgundy: few tens of kilometers separate Chablis from the vineyards of Aube. Being close to Champagne has also represented, at the beginning of 1900s, when the AOC French quality system was not introduced yet, a connection between the two wine areas. It in fact happened the crisp Chardonnay wines from Chablis were transported to Reims and Epernay and transformed in noble champenois bubbles. If we consider the geographic position, the composition of soil and environmental conditions, Chablis is more similar to Champagne than to Burgundy. The soil of Chablis area is in fact rich in chalk - just like the one of Champagne - a quality which gives its wines their characteristic mineral and flint aromas and taste.
With its ups and downs, moments of more or less noble prestigious times, Chablis wines have always been capable of catching the attention of the world. After having been for centuries the absolute protagonist of wine sold in Paris - Chablis has been for years the area from which the capital got the wine to be poured in carafes - and after having created a wine making model renowned worldwide in which the name of this area has been associated to Chardonnay, today Chablis wines suffer of the fact they did not obey to that wine making model, typical in the “New World”, where the barrique is the king of the cellar. Today Chablis whites probably are the less understood wines by most of consumers, because they are outside of the homologation of taste which invaded the world of Chardonnay, and its typical mineral organoleptic qualities of flint perhaps require too much attention if compared to the immediate approach of oak wood aromas and taste.
Despite in past times Chablis was produced by using the traditional feuillette
- a small wood barrel having the capacity of 132 litres - in the last
decades it was the steel tank to be mainly used in the cellar. Moreover,
the introduction of new important technologies, such as the fermentation
at a controlled temperature, have contributed to re launch Chablis wine
worldwide, by creating a wine making model which is now one of the most
imitated in the world. A model which is however facing the strong attacks
of the new Chardonnays coming from the “New World”, that with their immediate
and direct wood aromas have easily conquered the palates of many wine
lovers. The new trend has also been cause of new debates among Chablis
producers who were already involved in debating about the commercial and
enological utility of their traditions and the new techniques. Many of
them have however been tempted by this new fashion and adopted in their
cellar the use of barrique both for the fermentation and the aging of
Chardonnay.
Chablis viticulture and enology have walked a triumphant way beginning from the half of the 1950s, when the acreage destined to vineyards was a mere 500 hectares (1,235 acres). In the first years of the 1970s the acreage reached 750 hectares (1,853 acres), while today the covered land by vineyards is 4,300 hectares (10,625 acres). The environmental condition of the area frequently makes viticulture a difficult enterprise. One of the main problems viticulturists have to face is in fact frosts, an event which can also happen in May. There are two methods used in Chablis against frosts. The first one consists in placing stoves in vineyards in order to heat the air, the second one consists in sprinkling water on the vine's sprouts which will be then frozen by cold, therefore creating a layer of ice which will protect buds. The severe meteorological conditions and the particular composition of the soil give Chablis wines that absolutely mineral and personal character, a crispness hardly found elsewhere, qualities which made famous the wine of this area as the Chardonnay coming from the cold.
The production is mainly about wines destined to the Chablis AOC and Petit
Chablis AOC appellations, usually produced from vineyards cultivated in
the plains. Soils mainly made of chalk and fossil deposits are destined
to the production of Chablis Premier Cru AOC and Chablis Grand Cru AOC
wines, that is the two categories which made famous worldwide the enological
production of this area with the typical mineral and flint organoleptic
qualities. The seven climate Grand Cru are located near the north side
of the city of Chablis, vineyards from which are being produced the most
famous and looked for Chardonnays. Also Premier Crus are to be considered
excellent wines, in which it is always possible to find the mineral qualities
and the style of Chablis. Also in wines belonging to the Chablis AOC and
Petit Chablis AOC categories it is not rare to find good surprises. In
particular Petit Chablis, a wine to be consumed young - usually considered
a wine to be consumed daily with meals - that in its simplicity can be
a good starting point to understand the style of this famous French wine
area.
Sancerre is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine produced in the environs of Sancerre in the eastern part of the Loire valley, southeast of Orléans. Almost all of the appellation lies on the left bank of the Loire, opposite Pouilly-Fumé. It is regarded as the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc, making wines of great purity and elegance. Some Pinot Noir is grown, making mostly light red wines for quaffing, but at their best they can pass for those from neighbouring Burgundy.
In the east are the 'flints' that make minerally, long-lived wines. Between the town and Verdigny the soil consists of marl and gravel - 'les caillottes', producing fruity, well balanced wines. And in the southwest, away from the river towards Menetou-Salon, the chalky 'terres blanches' (white ground) produce weightier wines. Most - but not all - of the Sauvignon Blancs are unoaked.
Pinot Noir accounts for around 20% of production. Most of it goes into rosé or light reds similar to Beaujolais, but a few producers go for a more serious Burgundian style.
History
Sancerre's position as an administrative centre, and the large nearby cities of Orléans and Bourges ensured healthy local markets for the Pinot Noir wines traditional in the area. Demand further increased with the coming of the railway from Paris. In the late 19th century phylloxera wiped out the old vines, which were replanted with Sauvignon Blanc because it grafted better onto the American rootstocks. The area quickly established a reputation for elegant white wines, confirmed by designation as an AOC in 1936.
Appellation
White Sancerre was one of the original AOCs awarded in 1936, with the same area being designated for red wines on 23rd January 1959. The AOC area has expanded fourfold over the years, most recently on 18th March 1998. [1]
The AOC covers the communes of Bannay, Bué, Crésancy, Menetou-Râtel, Ménétréol, Montigny, Saint Satur, Sainte-Gemme, Sancerre, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Veaugues, Verdigny and Vinon.
Only Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir may be used.
Camino del Sur
Chile£ 12.50
This wine has a beautiful and bright golden colour dominated by elegant aromas od pineapple and peach. In the mouth, it's a medium bodied wine with a fresh agreeable long finish.
Chardonnay
Glass 175 ml £3.50
Glass 250 ml £4.50
Boulders Ridge
Australia £12.50
Blended from Semillon and Chardonnay grapes from selected vineyards, this wine displays the true character chardonnay and the distinct fullness of a typical Semillon. It's flavoursome, crisp and dry with an attractive nose and palate.
Semillon / Chardonnay
Glass 175 ml £3.50
Glass 250 ml £4.50
Bradgate 2004 Chenin Blanc
South Africa £14.50
Tropical pear flavours of Chenin Blanc compliment the ripe, green Fig intensity of grassy Sauvignon Blanc, balanced by a crisp, elegant finish.
Waterstone Bridge Reserve Chardonnay
Australia £14.50
A fine, fresh fruity wine, very smooth, ample and subtle. Notes of passion fruits enhanced with a hint of spice. A champagne full of elegance and distinction.
Glass £7.00
Cesari Pinot Grigio
Italy £14.50
One of the most famous white wines in the world. A fruity up front style that is perfect on its own as it is with food. The white has a discrete bouquet with depth and character on the palate. Great concentration of flavours leads to a finish of great finesse.
The wine has a discrete bouquet with depth and character on the palate. Great concentration of flavours leads to a finish of great finesse.
Glass 175 ml £4.00
Glass 250 ml £5.00
Louise Latour Ardeche Chardonnay
France £16.00
After 12 months ageing in small oak barrels, this wine displays fresh, rich fruit flavours with the extra dimension added by the judicious oak ageing.This wine punches well above its weight.
Glass 175 ml £4.50
Glass 250 ml £5.50
Mudhouse Sauvignon Blanc
Malborough NZ £16.50
Malborough has one of the longest ripening periods in the world, this combined with long summer days and cold nights produce wines of great finesse
Chablis la Chablisienne
Cuvee LC
France £20.00
Pale straw with green glints. Fruity and floral on the nose with citrus
notes. On the palate the wine is fresh and beautifully balanced,with good
ripe fruit and a long, exquisite mineral finish.
Old Station Rose
California £12.95
A delicate salmon-pink, medium wine that has been made using a very short maceration of the Zinfandel grapes after pressing. A perfect aperitif or as an accompaniment to light meats or fish dishes.
Glass 175 ml £3.50
Glass 250 ml £4.50
St. Juliana's Provence Rose
France £14.50
The Southern French coast has a reputation for being the Rose capital of the world. these wines are not to be confused with the sweet white Zinfandels of the USA. St.Julianas has a very light appearance with peachy aromas and an almost apricot palate.
Glass 175 ml £4.00
Glass 250 ml £5.00
Domaine Ott
Provence £38.00
Hand picking, extremely selective sorting and delicate pressing of the
grapes and then maturing in oak barrels are just some of the reasons why
this wine has the reputation for being the "finest rose in the
world".
Anakena Muscat
Dessert Wine
Chile £14.00
Intense yellow gold in colour it exhibits notes of almonds, walnuts and
delicate tones of honey. Excellent as an aperitif, with deserts or with
after dinner cheeses.
Zirilli Vineyard Botrytis Semillon
Australia £22.00
A bouquet of intense honeyed apricot and fig. Rich fruit fills the palate,
complimented by soft oak. The wine has a long, delicate finish.
Stowell's of Chelsea Liebfraumilch
Germany
175ml glass £2.70
Half Litre £8.00
Litre £14.00
The biggest selling wine in the country in a medium-sweet style.
Stowell's of Chelsea Chenin Blanc
South Africa
175ml glass £2.70
Half Litre £8.00
Litre £14.00
South Africa's most popular grape variety in a medium dry style.
Fabulous Whites & Rose
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