Jean-Claude Bessin - Chablis 1er Cru 'Montmains' 2024
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$90.00
Jean-Claude Bessin and his wife, Evelyne, took the reins of Evelyne’s family vineyards in 1992 and began transforming the estate. Although the family had been growing grapes in Chablis since the 19th century, the wines were, until then, produced at a co-operative.
Jean-Claude Bessin’s cellar lies underneath the church in La Chapelle Vaupelteigne, north of the town of Chablis. From his 12 hectares, Bessin produces two Chablis village, four Chablis 1er Cru, including a special cuvée of Fourchaume labeled La Pièce au Comte, and a thought-after Valmur Grand Cru.
Today, Romain, Jean-Claude and Evelyne’s son, works alongside his father in the vineyards and in the cellar.
In the vineyard, Jean-Claude farms organically and aims to limit the yield of his old vines to 45-50 hl/ha. When the harvest comes, the grapes are manually picked and thoroughly sorted. Harvest usually lasts no longer than 10 days to make sure all grapes are harvested at their optimal maturity.
Evolution in recent years has been towards more natural winemaking. Upon arrival in the cellar, the grapes are pressed, slowly and gently. The must is then racked into thermo-regulated tanks for the fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wines are aged on fine lees, for 15 to 18 months, with a maximum of 10% new oak. If necessary, light fining and filtration are performed before bottling. Whole-cluster pressing (pneumatic), indigenous yeast fermentation. The Bessin vineyards are farmed organically.
“In some of the Chablis parcels we had 2hl/ha, while in Montmains and Forêt we had 17hl/ha. No hail there, but that month of rain in June affected the yields.” They will blend Forêt and Montmains under a Mountains label. I tasted both components, which are aging separately, and they had strong cru identity; Montmains fruitier and Forêt straighter and more mineral, so they will complement each other. And it will be easier to make the allocations. - Antoine Bessin
"Succulent and juicy. Fruity mid-palate and more mineral to finish. Quite steely acidity. Sharp mineral to finish. I tasted both components—Forêt and Montmains—and from the 600-liter barrels, they were nice and fresh. The blend seems more Montmains in style. Wine from a 228-liter barrel made the blend a bit oxidative for now, so a conservative score, but I’m fully confident this will turn out well. 2027–32." 86–87 Points, Sarah Marsh, MW
Producer: Jean-Claude Bessin
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Varietal: Chardonnay
Appellation: Chablis 1er Cru
Vintage: 2024
Size: 750ml
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