Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vignes

In 2020, the COVID-19 virus robbed the world of hundreds of planned projects. In the case of William Kelley—The Wine Advocate’s critic for Burgundy, California, the Central Coast, and Washington—the lockdown robbed him of the opportunity to taste the best wines from the 2018 vintage. But today, as he tastes the 2019 vintage, Kelley has caught up. His conclusion: “The 2018 is among the best wines of this high-yielding vintage, with rare balance and concentration. The 2019 is even better,” he says. Those wines include Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vigne, an AOC Chablis white wine produced by the Bessin-Tremblay domaine and sourced from La Chapelle Vaupelteigne, a village north of Chablis in Burgundy (in east-central France).

The 12 hectares of vineyards where Jean-Luc and his son Romain cultivate Chardonnay to perfection are located in this area, surrounded by premier crus and bordered by the Serein River. On these lands, new vines of 20 years are mixed with older vines, almost half a century old, which produce grapes of better quality. Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vigne is made from these almost century-old gems. The marly soil, hot summers and long, harsh winters make Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vigne one of the best wines of Chablis.

Viticulture and vineyard work are carried out entirely by hand. The grapes are harvested and selected by hand, and the quality of the grapes is also taken care of during pressing, where gentle pressure is applied to obtain a must of the highest quality. The juice obtained is transferred to stainless steel vats, where it undergoes alcoholic and malolactic fermentation at a controlled temperature using native yeasts. Finally, the Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Vieilles Vigne will be raised in its 18+ months.

Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2019 is a white wine. On the nose, there are aromas of crisp green apple, pastry cream, white flowers and lemon. The palate is moderately full-bodied, sculpted and precise, with acidic and chalky notes.