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A Bourgogne Blanc with One Foot in Chablis
A Bourgogne Blanc with One Foot in Chablis
by Tom Wolf by Tom Wolf
2022 Bourgogne Tonnerre
2022 Bourgogne Tonnerre
David Lavantureux
David and Arnaud Lavantureux
Roland Lavantureux France | Burgundy | Bourgogne
Among the two hundred or so producers we work with in France and Italy, perhaps no one has transformed their domaine as comprehensively—and tastefully—in the last decade as brothers Arnaud and David Lavantureux. Shortly after joining their father, who had produced excellent Chablis and Petit Chablis for decades, Arnaud and David added a handful of beautiful premier and grand cru cuvées to their lineup, quickly turning 4 Rue Saint-Martin in Lignorelles into one of the region’s most respected addresses. But rather than simply acquire holdings in Chablis’s obvious heavy hitters, they’ve been more creative, identifying vineyards throughout Chablis and beyond full of extraordinary promise.
In the last few years, for instance, the brothers have turned their sights to Tonnerre, a small and long-overlooked village twenty kilometers east of Chablis, which teems with incredible potential for beautiful Chardonnay. Much of this land stretches across the same Kimmeridgian bedrock as Chablis but the soil along the surface is more limestone-heavy, imbuing its Chardonnay with more roundness and easy-going charm. What you get then, in the Lavantureux brothers’ new Bourgogne Tonnerre, is a white wine that has both the Kimmeridgian oyster shell quality we love so much about Chablis and the sunny and generous, fleshy orchard fruit notes that make the best Bourgogne blancs so approachable and delicious. Pour it alongside grilled lobster—or your favorite white fish—along with mushroom skewers and cornbread for a memorable summer feast.
David Lavantureux
David and Arnaud Lavantureux
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chardonnay |
Appellation: | Bourgogne |
Country: | France |
Region: | Burgundy |
Producer: | Domaine Roland Lavantureux |
Winemaker: | Arnaud Lavantureux |
Vineyard: | Planted in 2017 |
Soil: | Clay, limestone (kimmeridgian) |
Aging: | Aged 20% in older barrels that are 1 to 5 years old and 80% in tank |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2022 Chablis
France | Burgundy
A crystal-clear translation of the Kimmeridgian limestone of Chablis—Chardonnay the way it can only taste from these soils.
2022 Petit Chablis
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With a delectable combination of fresh fruit and oyster-shell aromatics, this remains Lavantureux’s benchmark for value and typicity.
2022 Bourgogne Epineuil “Les Fauconniers”
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November Club Rouge ~ Epineuil shares the prized Kimmeridgian marl that makes up the soils of Chablis, and this rouge echoes the bright, mineral backbone that characterizes Lavantureux whites.
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Entry-level access to one of the masters of the Côte de Beaune.
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Everything about this cuvée, from the delicately briny scent of slick oyster shells to the concentrated, pristinely focused sensation on the palate, is a demonstration of why this domaine has become one of Chablis’ very best.
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2022 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
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A stunning value from one of Chablis’ oldest premier cru vineyards, with a lovely mouthful of stone fruit and hint of lemongrass.
2022 Chablis 1er Cru “Beauroy”
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The premier cru Beauroy is a round, ample expression of Chablis from a south-facing parcel. Silky and suave on the palate, it finishes with a whisper of salinity.
About The Producer
Domaine Roland Lavantureux
With a sharp eye, natural instinct, and solid, Burgundian pragmatism, Roland Lavantureux is making no-nonsense Chablis that has come to be one of the most reliable of the old reliables here at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. Upon his completion of wine school in Beaune, Roland founded the domaine in 1978. Today, he is joined by his two sons, Arnaud works in the vineyards and cellar, while David takes the lead in marketing and sales. In addition to making a stunning Chablis, the Lavantureux family also bottles a Petit Chablis, two premier crus, and three grand crus
About The Region
Burgundy
In eastern central France, Burgundy is nestled between the wine regions of Champagne to the north, the Jura to the east, the Loire to the west, and the Rhône to the south. This is the terroir par excellence for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The southeast-facing hillside between Dijon in the north and Maranges in the south is known as the Côte d’Or or “golden slope.” The Côte d’Or comprises two main sections, both composed of limestone and clay soils: the Côte de Nuits in the northern sector, and the Côte de Beaune in the south. Both areas produce magnificent whites and reds, although the Côte de Beaune produces more white wine and the Côte de Nuits more red.
Chablis is Burgundy’s northern outpost, known for its flinty and age-worthy Chardonnays planted in Kimmeridgian limestone on an ancient seabed. Vézelay is a smaller area south of Chablis with similar qualities, although the limestone there is not Kimmeridgian.
To the south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise extends from Chagny on its northern end, down past Chalon-sur-Saône and encompasses the appellations of Bouzeron in the north, followed by Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny.
Directly south of the Chalonnaise begins the Côte Mâconnais, which extends south past Mâcon to the hamlets of Fuissé, Vinzelles, Chaintré, and Saint-Véran. The Mâconnais is prime Chardonnay country and contains an incredible diversity of soils.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211