Vinification

(Interview....)  How do you vinify your wines ?
	I will explain this simply! A mechanical and manual harvest. Pneumatic pressing; severe static settling, then alcoholic fermentation, followed by a 100% malolactic fermentation. This is essential for ageing wines. Generally followed by two rackings and fining. This makes it possible to let the wine rest until the unique filtration for the preparation of bottling during the summer .
(Interview....)  So, Chablis in oak or Chablis in tank ?
	This is the big question that tasters and producers ask themselves.
(Interview....)  What do you think of the last years ?
	The vintages 1997 and 1998 are of similar style. The 1998 has a nose more expressive than the 1997, but this can be its youth being expressed, because one often finds strong white fruit aromas when they are young. the 1997 vintage for us is more typical of a keeping Chablis, bigger in the month, even thou these aromas are more discrete, the 1997 vintage present a palate and finish of incredible smoothness. If I could summarize this ; I would advise drinking the 1998 at the beginning of a meal. I would associate their volume of aromas with shellfish , iodised a little, and the 1997 with their smoothness, in the middle of a meal with lobsters or crayfish. The 1996 vintage makes for excellent keeping wines. They profit from an alcohol acidity balance which is very beneficial for them. In tastings, the average acidity of th 1996 currently surprises us compared with the low acidity of the 1997 and 1998. It is therefore necessary to age them, or to serve them with plates of fish, if the sauce is also a little acid. In short, the 1996 vintage will make some memorable and beautiful ten year old bottles.
(Interview....)  And which was your most prized bottle ?
	In recent years; I have weak spot for the Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 1997. It is a prime example of quality Chablis 1er Cru, with a volume of aromas and an extroardinary freshness, very minerally, and a long typical Chablis finish. Another wine which should be aged, opened and enjoyed between friends is the Chablis grand Cru "Les clos" 1996 without dispute my preferred bottle : rich and powerful in its pure state. Another wine to be remembered is the 1990 vintage. This vintage was undoubtedly the most perfect in the last thirty years.