Chablis

Chablis, whilst technically the northernmost wine department of Burgundy it is so unique and definable as its own region. Chablis' cool climate with Chardonnay on Kimmeridgian is what makes this wine one of the most pure and most identifiable in the vinous world.  Here the grapes maintain a striking acidity, limpidity, steely & flinty, described by locals as "goût de pierre à fusil" or taste of gunflint.

The hierarchy of Chablis is easily definable with the lowest part of Chablis being the village that shares its name and the vineyards rising gently on it surrounding slopes. At the top of the classification are the seven Grand Cru vineyards, which are all located on a single hillside to the north-east of the village, they represent about 1% of Chablis production. Then there are 40 Premier Cru vineyards scattered around the village and stretching to neighboring satellite villages. Then there is 3,676 hectares of villages Chablis which represents roughly one-third of the regions production. Petit Chablis can be grown on Kimmeridgian or Portlandian soils and as the name suggest it can be a "little Chablis" but in the right grower's hands this can rival a Chablis villages.