Domaine des Malandes

The Domaine des Malandes was so named in 1986. Lyne and Jean-Bernard Marchive are the winegrowers of this family sized wine farm. The domaine originates from the work of several generations of Tremblays (Lyne Marchive's family), locals from a village called ''La Chapelle Vaupelteigne'', one of the twenty villages that make up the Chablis wine region.


The vines and Vinification

In wine-making, Domaine des Malandes' main objective consists of leaving a maximum of possibilities for the soil to express itself. Chablis has the good fortune of a unique type of soil called Kimmeridgian which confers to its wine mineral and vivid tastes.

Constantly during the vegetative period, the Domaine des Malandes' team controls the vine's foliage and fruit, using integrated pest management. So when harvest time arrives, the grapes reach optimal maturity and quality. In the cellar, a lot of care is taken of vinification. Jean-Bernard Marchive's interventions as a wine-maker do not mark the wines but on the contrary leave them a chance to asserttheir own character.

from: http://www.domainedesmalandes.com/
Reproduced without permission

Chablis wine

The Chablis wine region is the northernmost sector of Burgundy, France, and also the name of a town located there.

The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée system divides the region into four classifications: Chablis AOC, Petit Chablis AOC, Chablis Premier Cru AOC and Chablis Grand Cru AOC.

All wines in the appellations are white wines from Chardonnay grapes (although there are some smaller minor appellations nearby that produce wines from Pinot Noir, Aligoté, Sauvignon Blanc and others). The area is made up of 20 or so small villages clustered around the centrally located village of Chablis. The region is divided in two by the Serein River.

The Grand Crus of Chablis are connected on a chain of three interlocking slopes on the right bank overlooking the Serein. The seven Grand Cru vineyards are (from southeast to northwest): Blanchot, Les Clos, Valmur, Grenouilles, Vaudesir, Les Preuses and Bougros. The Premier Crus are situated on a series of hillsides both on the left and right side of the river. The best Premier Crus are, like the Grand Crus, on the right bank facing the southwest (notably, Fourchaume vineyard, located one mile to the north). The soil is a unique combination of clay and chalk called “Kimmeridgian�, and it is profusely littered by fossils of comma-shaped oysters. It gives the wines a unique profile of aromas and flavours. It is often referred to as a 'gout de la pierre la fusil', or gunflint character. Another oft-mentioned characterization is that of ''wet rocks''. The fruit flavour is very reserved, as Chablis' northern location produces grapes that just barely reach an acceptable level of ripeness. Expect green apples, pineapples and pink grapefruits. Finally, the wines are also typified by their bracing acidity, often unforgiving in the wines’ youth (but improved by decanting young vintages before serving), which allows the wines to age very well.

Misuse of the name ''Chablis''

Before the use of varietal labelling became the norm in the New World, wine producers borrowed the names of wines that their products resembled and with which consumers would be familiar. This practice is now rare and virtually limited to inexpensive jug wines. Even before the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 revolutionized the world of wine, higher quality California wines were generally labelled by grape variety. This is now the standard practice with New World wines.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chablis_(vin)
Licenced under the GFDL

Vineyard

Minerally, sophisticated, complete. Pleanty of vigour, structure and depth. A truly magnificent Chablis Grand Crû from this outstanding Domaine. Produced in a very hot year with small yields. Plenty of vigour, structure and depth. [read on...]

£35.80

The Marchives have a plot of 50 year old vines close to Grand Crû Vaudesir which they call 'Tour du Roy' With above average consentration and quality for its price this is a very fine typical minerally Chablis with just the slightest touch of oak to add complexity and a hint of citrus [read on...]

£12.95

No oak here! and from the outstanding 2008 vintage. Wonderful nose of fresh fruit, especially peaches and a rich, full supple flavour with classic minerality, which has assumed greater complexity with a year in bottle. [read on...]

£11.95

Petit Chablis is one of the four 'appellations' of Chablis and although Petit in French means small, there is nothing small about this wine. 2008 was an excellent vintage and still retains a fresh, lively bouquet and a fresh lemon, citrus seductive flavour with a touch of minerality. [read on...]

£10.25