Chablis: Kimmeridgian slopes, Portlandian tops
A line from the left-bank slopes, across the Serein at Chablis, up the grand cru hill through Les Clos to the plateau. Tap a layer to read it.
Swipe the plate sideways to see the whole section.
Schematic. The line runs south-west to north-east, just north of the town. Dauvissat's Beauroy lies about 3 km north-west on the left bank, toward Poinchy and Beine; the Brèches de Fyé lie east of Blanchot behind the grand cru hill; the Petit Chablis plateaux of Beine and Fyé are off the line. Beds are drawn flat; the Kimmeridgian–Portlandian boundary height varies across the appellation and is to be checked against the BRGM 1:50,000 sheet for Chablis.
5 layers, youngest at the top
Single vineyards we pour from. Tap one on the plate.
Why the hierarchy follows the rock
- Grand cru, premier cru and Chablis grow on Kimmeridgian marl and limestone; Petit Chablis mostly on the hard Portlandian tops.
- All seven grands crus share one steep hill on the right bank, facing south-west across the Serein toward the town.
- The premiers crus face south, south-east or south-west on side valleys; Beauroy, on the left bank, faces south-west.
- Frost pools on the valley floor; slopes and plateaux escape it more often.
Did you knowThe tiny fossil oyster in Chablis's Kimmeridgian, Exogyra virgula, is about the size of a fingernail and shaped like a comma. You can pick them out of the soil on the grand cru hill.
Pas Mal wines on this ground
Chablis and Chablis premier cru
- ChablisDomaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat
- Chablis 1er Cru BeauroyDomaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat
- Chablis Les Petits Vignerons (barrel aged)Domaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat
- ChablisYannick Cadiou
- Chablis La Côte d'OrYannick Cadiou
Petit Chablis, from the plateaux
- Petit ChablisDomaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat
- Petit ChablisYannick Cadiou
Bourgogne rouge from Beine
- Bourgogne RougeDomaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat
Sources: BIVB Chablis sheets; Opimian, The distinctive wines of Chablis; Chng Poh Tiong, Chablis; Domaine Agnès et Didier Dauvissat vineyard notes; BRGM 1:50,000 geological map, sheet Chablis; AWS Terrain Tiles.