Domaine du Colombier

Domaine du Colombier is a family property since 1887, handed down over several generations. In 1957 Guy Mothe started to specialize in vinifying Chablis and today his three sons Jean-Louis, Thierry and Vincent work the 51 ha of vineyards. The vines are exclusively Chardonnay. The domaine started to sell in bottle in mid 1980s and produces 250,000 bottles today.

Pruning starts after the leaves have fallen, using the double guyot method. In April the cane is tied down to the lower training wire to slow the circulation of sap and diminishes the vigor of the vine whilst improving fruit.

The new branches are trained between the two wires in Jun to ensure good maturity by exposing them to the sun while ensuring good aeration to make the leaves and grapes less susceptible to disease. In Jul the extremities of the branches will be trimmed to stop the depriving of nutrients for the grapes.

By end Sep harvest begins when the grapes have attained the desired maturity and sugar levels, using mechanical harvester. When the grapes arrive at the domaine they are put in pneumatic presses, and the juice then put into tanks with thermo-regulation.

Alcoholic fermentation takes 2 weeks and then malolactic fermentation is allowed, before the wine is put in tank or oak barrels (for the Grand Cru Bougros). The domaine produces all four Chablis appellations: Petit-Chablis, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.

I have recently tasted the 2013 Chablis and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has light lemon color, with wide watery rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium (-) intensity of citrus fruit of lemon and lime, green fruit of grapefruit, floral notes of acacia, mineral notes of steely. The wine is youthful.

Palate

Dry with high acidity, the wine has medium alcohol and medium (-) body, demonstrating medium (-) intensity of flavors including citrus fruit of lemon, green fruit of grapefruit, mineral notes of steely, floral notes of acacia. The wine has a medium (-) finish.

Conclusion

Good quality Chablis with the typical varietal characters on the nose, though not having much intensity and complexity, the wine is refreshing, with the signature high acidity of the region. Not much on concentration and length, however, but nevertheless a nice wine to drink young and chilled, not intend for further ageing.