1996 Chablis Blanchots

The Chablis Blanchots (2,000 case production from 4.6 hectares - 40 hectoliters per hectare) is 100% barrel fermented, 20% of which are new. It exhibits spicy oak, minerals and smoky hickory aromas and an oily, thick, luscious, extremely ripe yet highly-focused personality packed with citrus and oak flavors. This wine is so concentrated and ripe that, with bottle age, the wood flavors will be absorbed by the fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2006. Michel Laroche, the dapper director of this large Chablis producer, stated he had not witnessed a vintage comparable to 1996 in the thirty years he has been crafting wines. Laroche sighted the bright sun (luminosite) that drove up sugar levels through photosynthesis while cool temperatures (22C daytime and 4C evening) maintained high acidity levels. He went on to say that 1996 is 10% richer in sugar and 10% higher in acidity than 1995, another excellent Chablis vintage. Furthermore, he said that in 1997 his wines attained high sugar levels from heat, not sun, and therefore had low acidity levels. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel (312) 247-7070.