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2018 Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

2018 Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

95 DEC

Featured Review
This impressive Grand Cru is sourced from a 63-year-old parcel of 0.69ha and is fermented in 20% older barrels, allowing its intensely focused, iodine-scented flavours to express themselves. Elegant, pale and very pure, it's another wine that seems to transcend the limits of the growing season, finishing with a mouth-watering flourish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2030. Decanter

Decanter | 95 DEC

Critic Reviews

This impressive Grand Cru is sourced from a 63-year-old parcel of 0.69ha and is fermented in 20% older barrels, allowing its intensely focused, iodine-scented flavours to express themselves. Elegant, pale and very pure, it's another wine that seems to transcend the limits of the growing season, finishing with a mouth-watering flourish.
Drinking Window 2021 - 2030.

Decanter | 95 DEC
Unfurling in the glass with scents of citrus blossom, fresh peach and pears, the 2018 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses is full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with an elegantly textural attack, lively acids and a fleshy core of fruit. This is a round, demonstrative Preuses that will show well young, even if it can't quite match the tension and salinity of the best vintages.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP
The 2018 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru is wonderfully silky and nuanced. This is an especially open-knit, radiant style of Preuses. Apricot, peach, spice and floral notes are all laced together in an exotic, open wine. The 2018 is powerful and intense with a real sense of palate density and weight. This is a decidedly rich, ample expression of Preuses and yet the telltale energy and minerality of this site are both evident.

Vinous Media | 92-94 VM
(Domaine Servin Chablis - Les Preuses Grand Cru White) There is a mild touch of exotic character suffusing the floral, white peach, melon and algae scents. The denser and finer medium-bodied flavors possess equally good verve while displaying a sophisticated texture that also characterizes the lingering, clean and dry finish. This lovely effort will need to add complexity as it ages but it appears to have the stuffing to do so. (Drink starting 2026).

Burghound | 91-93 BH

Wine Details for 2018 Domaine Servin Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

Type of Wine Burgundy White : No one can express the full potential of Chardonnay quite like the visionaries from Burgundy. With an almost entirely single-minded devotion to the noble varietal in question, they continue to push the boundaries of quality, to the joy of their many fans worldwide. Discover the nuances of every producer and come out changed forever.
Varietal Chardonnay : Chardonnay has carved its path towards the title “king of white grapes” in subtle yet striking fashion, playing instrumental roles throughout the course of history. It was the chosen grape variety which celebrated the inception of the very first Champagne house - Ruinart, which insists “Chardonnay is the golden thread that runs through the Ruinart taste. “ “Remember men, it’s not just France we’re fighting for, it’s Champagne,” Winston Churchill. The infamous and celebrated French author, Alexandre Dumas once declared a high quality chardonnay wine from Le Montrachet was one that is only appropriate to sip “on bended knees, with head bowed.” And of course, history was made once again when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was awarded first prize in the famous tasting of the “1976 Judgement of Paris,” changing the world’s view on California Chardonnay, inspiring vintners and altering the landscape of California winemaking forever.

The origin of the Chardonnay grape can be traced back to the small village of Macon in the Burgundy appellation of France. The varietal, whose name means “a place of thistles” in Latin, is the offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. Like most prominent grape varietals, the exact circumstances of its inception are unknown; however, it is interesting to note that Gouais Blanc originated in Germany. It is speculated that the ancient Romans, who successfully subdued the Germanic tribes in 6 AD, planted Gouais Blanc in French soil, unwittingly prompting the crossbreeding of the two varietals. If this is the case, the history of the Chardonnay grape goes back much further.

The Noble Chardonnay grape variety is most happy in the winegrowing appellation of Burgundy, its home and birth place. Burgundy’s grand Terroir of marl limestone soils and cool climate allows the Chardonnay grape to express itself to its full zenith. Interestingly, the varietal is extremely flexible and can adapt to a wide diversity of soils, allowing the terroir in which it grows to dictate the qualities of the grape and thus revealing a multitude of personalities. For instance, there are subtle yet distinguishing differences in terroir in the Burgundian villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Chablis, Meursault, Corton Charlemagne, Macon, etc. which are all fashioned in their own unique way. The difference in each Climat or Lieu-dit, such as Le Montrachet (Puligny-Montrachet) and Valmur (Chablis) can take one further down the proverbial “rabbit-hole” and into the wonderful, yet complex world of Burgundy wines. However, Burgundy is but one prime growing location for this tremendously adaptable grape variety.

The spread of Chardonnay would eventually take root in Champagne, where it excelled in the region’s cool climate and chalky, sub-soils. For top Champagne producers, it became the main ingredient in their high quality, high profile Blanc de Blancs. It would also begin to be blended with the two other acceptable varietals of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (red skinned grapes). The chardonnay grape is now planted in 10,000 of the 34,000 hectares of Champagne.

Chardonnay would find its way to California in the late 1800’s but would remain obscure for more than a century due to ignorance of the varietal and lack of knowledge on how to marry it with appropriate terroir. Things changed in the 1970’s when Chardonnay saw a resurgence world-wide, mostly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris. The unthinkable happened when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena bested some of Burgundy’s finest chardonnay offerings from Batard-Montrachet and Meursault. This event helped place California on the map, changing the face of California winemaking forever. It rejuvenated the cultivation of the Chardonnay grape variety, which saw an exponential growth world-wide.
Much like the climats of Burgundy which have their own unique terroir, Chardonnay’s adaptability has found a home in the diverse appellations, terroirs and climates of California. The cool climate locations produce crisp wines with Burgundian nuances, while warmer climates produce wines with opulent, ripe fruit reminiscent of pineapple, mango and papaya. Terroir also dictates the personality, steel and concrete tanks versus oak, and the list goes. From buttery, oak-infused heady wines to crisp, refreshing cool climate fashioned Chardonnays, the grape variety can be extremely modified. There are not enough letters in Microsoft Word to demonstrate all the different nuances, qualities, differences of terroir, climate and winemaking techniques that would encompass in full, the details of the Chardonnay grape.

The well-travelled grape varietal of Chardonnay has become the fascination of consumers around the world, becoming the most written about of all grapes. Today, it is planted in over 40 countries, amassing an impressive 211,000 hectares (500,000 acres) across the globe. From Burgundy to Champagne, Napa to Sonoma, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, Chardonnay graces vineyards around the world, captivating its audience with its multiple personalities. “So powerful is the ‘C-word’ on a wine label,” as the famed Jancis Robinson exclaimed. Since its discovery in Macon, this C-word has become a dominant force in the world of wine, changing history, winemaking and the understanding of winegrowing and its powerful attributes to a single varietal.

Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Region Burgundy : Situated just west of the beautiful river Saone, the hills and valleys of Burgundy stand as they have stood since medieval times, and you can almost hear the cheerful chatter of vineyard workers from miles away. Indeed, France's identity in the world of wine would be incomplete without the inclusion of Burgundy and its many viticultural achievements. Every little sub-region of the area boasts a unique soil composition, which, when combined with the area's climate conditions, creates an incredibly diverse and appealing selection of fine wines.

Every new bottle is an adventure of its own, and a snapshot of its birthplace. You could spend years sampling great Burgundian wines, and you would still have a lot to learn, which is what makes the region so compelling for veterans and novice wine lovers alike. No matter what your taste in wines may be, there is a winery in Burgundy that could mesmerize your mind and make your senses scream with joy. And what better way to spend a comfy summer afternoon with your friends and family than with a classy bottle from some of the region's most reputable wineries? From the noble slopes of Cote d'Or to the flatlands near various settlements, let us help you on your journey as we explore Burgundy's most delicious and renowned wines.

Overview

Producer Domaine Servin : Nestled between Paris, the Capital of France and Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy lies Chablis; an historical winemaking region with its own renown. Chablis lives and breathes winemaking, giving great tribute to its grand terroir; a terroir that is unrivaled and one in which the Chardonnay grape truly expresses itself in all its glory, untethered and celebrated for its noble qualities. The region’s beloved Chardonnay is the golden thread that runs through the Domaine Servin palate; a family name that has honored the age-old tradition of winemaking in Chablis since the 16th Century. Chablis has been as equally important to the Servin’s as the family has been to Chablis. The Servin’s have been instrumental in bringing international awareness to Chardonnay, the region and prestige to the name “Chablis”.

The first traces of the Servin family in Chablis date back to 1654. However, Joseph Droin of Domaine Droin discovered timeworn documents from 1537 mentioning the owners of the Chablis vineyards and the Servin name was inscribed on the list. Nonetheless, with more than seven generations of winegrowers, laborers, coopers and winemakers behind them, the Servin family are still devoted to the vine. Tradition is important to them, which because of their long history in Chablis, owns some of the greatest parcels; including four Grand Crus (Blanchots, Les Preuses, Bougros and Les Clos) six Premier Crus, an 11 hectare vineyard located in the Lieu-dit of Les Pargues (formerly a Premier Cru) and a .62 hectare parcel in Petit Chablis. In total, the domaine has 36 hectares under vine, exclusively devoted to Chardonnay.

When the vine disease, phylloxera laid waste to the vineyards of Chablis in the late 1900s, all vines in Les Pargues (where Domaine Servin owns 11 hectares) disappeared, says François Servin. “When the Premier Cru classification was made during the 1920’s and the 1930’s they felt they had enough of Premier Crus before they got to Les Pargues. At the time Les Pargues was a forest and it was up in the hills, and not very close to Chablis. My father and a few other growers started to replant Les Pargues in the 1960’s.” Francois’ father tried to have Les Pargues reclassified as Premier Cru, prior to his death in 1978, but without success. François Servin says he doesn’t see it happen, either. He believes it to be impossible and that it would start WWIII in Chablis. Despite its failure to be reclassified, Les Pargues is of undeniably tremendous quality. This was a mighty attempt by Servin and is proof of the family’s focus and determination on brining recognition to their beloved homeland of Chablis.

Domaine Servin’s viticultural method is a careful mix of traditional and modern techniques. Following tradition, the finest vineyards (including both Grand Cru and Premier Cru) are hand harvested. Each parcel is vinified individually, in order to respect the identity and authenticity of the terroir. Modern technology is used to produce consistently high quality wines, while retaining the inimitable “Servin” style. Francois Servin has taken great steps to bring his domaine into the forefront of Chablis. He believes each wine must find its own identity through specially adapted tailor-made winemaking and as equally importantly, its terroir.

Domaine Servin’s vineyards reside on prime real-state; lying solely on Kimmeridgian limestone soils, which gives the wines their incomparable minerality. The geological originality of appellation Chablis resides in its sub-strata, often quite near the surface, of the famous Kimmeridgean limestone, formed by billions of tiny fossilized oyster shells, called Ostrea Virgule. The best Chablis vineyards grow on what was a prehistoric sea bed. Even today one can run a hand through the limestone and clay soils and pick out fossilized shells and marine skeletons (minerals). This tremendous terroir is responsible for the wines ‘personality’ characterized by their purity, crispness, sophistication and minerality. The soil structure may also be the reason for the salinity (saltiness or sea spray) and sea shell aromas and flavors in the wine. Skeptics may scoff at the perhaps too obvious association of finding seashells in the soils and seashell aroma in the wine, while scientists have yet to agree on the precise effect of the soils on the aromas and flavor of any wine. Yet, the wine expresses itself clearly with little regard for either skepticism or science. In vino veritas. (Latin translation for “In Wine there is Truth”).

Though Servin may not be mentioned in the same breath as Francois Raveneau or Vincent Dauvissat, the domaine is regularly selected in the most prestigious wine competitions and books such as Guide Hachette, Decanter and Wine Spectator. Also, each year the domaine is visited by the most respected wine writers, such as Stephen Tanzer, Allen Meadows, Antonio Galloni and David Schildknecht, for tastings and interviews. Domaine Servin’s traditional winemaking style and ultimately its wines have charmed amateurs and professionals all over the world including Alexis Lichine, the famous American wine writer and importer, with whom Servin created an historic partnership with 60 years ago. Some six decades later, almost 85% of Servin Chablis is exported to all four corners of the globe – another impressive contribution to the region of Chablis, by the Servin Family.

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