2004 Chablis Moutonne
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Tasting notes
The 2004 Chablis Grand Cru Moutonne has a pungent nose of grass clippings, gooseberry, flint and nettle – dare I say, almost akin to a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire! The palate sports an herbaceous entry, quite smoky with a vegetal edge, again erring towards Sauvignon Blanc, with a touch of bell pepper on the finish. Interesting, but personally I prefer the younger vintages such as the 2009 and 2010. Drink now. I spent a morning at Vinexpo attending a mini-vertical of Chablis Moutonne, a monopole of Domaine Long-Depaquit owned by Maison Albert Bichot. It is not an officially recognized Grand Cru since the family never registered the name. Duh! It is actually located 95% in Vaudesir and 5% in Preuses, though the domaine has permission to use the “Moutonne” name on the label. It is a small, south-southeast facing amphitheater on kimmeridgian soils and 25% of the crop is vinified in oak barrels and matured in used oak, up to five years old.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Nicely focused aromas of honey, smoke and wet stone. Dense, lush and very full yet youthfully austere, with a saline sweetness (Alberic Bichot called it "snail shell") and notes of lemon, honeysuckle, flint and smoke. Still quite closed but already shows exceptional breadth and suavity. Finishes very long and powerful, with lingering flint, smoke and lemon notes.
About the producer
Although the Bichot family settled in the region in 1350, Albert Bichot was founded in 1831 by Bernard Bichot. Today the producer is one of Burgundy’s most respected, making wines from both its own vineyards and with purchased fruit.