Domaine Christophe et Fils 'Mont de Milieu' 1er Cru Chablis, Burgundy, France 2022

Domaine Christophe et Fils 'Mont de Milieu' 1er Cru Chablis, Burgundy, France 2022

Sebastien Christophe started with a small half hectare parcel of Petit Chablis from his family and made a run for it. After winemaking school he started to vinify this tiny parcel and has slowly acquired small parcels of village vineyards and a lot of Petit Chablis land. He also rents parcels that he farms entirely himself. Today, he has three premier crus on the right bank of the Serein river, Fourchaume, Mont de Milieu and Montée de Tonnerre. To our surprise, it’s difficult (almost impossible) to find his wines in town on any list. He exports almost everything, save the wines sold to some of the top spots in Paris. 

Terroir: Located south of the grand crus and the noblest of premier crus, Montée de Tonnerre, it’s one of the most versatile premier crus in Chablis. Although it’s not talked about much, on this side of the river it’s easy to see slopes that have a tremendous amount of the portlandian limestone that have made their way down the hills and are set in place by the sticky marne soils (calcium rich clay) on kimmeridgian marl bedrock. These soil elements and the south to southwest aspects on this side of the Serein River often have greater palate weight and roundness, and less intense mineral components than many of those across the river on the left bank, depending on each vineyard. Mont de Milieu has a great range of characteristics that place it in the center stylistically between the right and left bank. Finesse is its main game but it plenty of thrust that drives home its complex range of subtleties.