2020 Domaine Laroche Chablis "Saint Martin", Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Saint Martin, the patron saint of Chablis, was a Roman cavalry officer who became a humble monk and was elected Bishop of Tours. After his death in 397, his body was brought back to the Abbey of Marmoutier in Tours, where his relics (such as his cavalry cape, which he had torn in half for a beggar) were kept. In 877, as the Normans were invading the Touraine, monks took his relics to Chablis to avoid destruction. Saint Martin’s relics were kept for a decade in the Obédiencerie of the ninth-century monastery in the town of Chablis. The Saint Martin cuvée is the flagship wine of Domaine Laroche, a symbol of the Laroche values of sharing and conviviality.

The Chablis Saint Martin is a blending of the most beautiful plots of the domaine’s within the appellation. The terroir of Chablis located on the Kimmeridgian soil has both excellent acidity and remarkable finesse. Thanks to a long aging on fine lees, Chablis Saint Martin offers the typical minerality.

There are more than 30 people who are dedicated to caring for the 90-plus hectares (222.39 acres) of Domaine Laroche vineyards, with each person responsible for only one plot. This tailor-made approach allows them to manage the vineyards with precision, speed and accuracy.

The 2020 harvest started on August 25th. The harvest yields were impacted by drought, particularly for the certain plots that were well exposed to the sun. Chablis Saint Martin 2020 offers it’s typical minerality and freshness.

Whole bunches are collected in a pneumatic press, then 12 hours settling at 12 to 15°C in specially designed wide tanks to accelerate the natural settling process and produce very clear juice. 15 days of fermentation at 16°C in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation and aging for 6 months on fine lees in 85% steel tanks and 15% in “foudres” – large oak casks of 55hl of 30 years old. Minimal filtration is used to preserve and maximize the natural character of the wine.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Domaine Laroche is directly linked to the history of Chablis. One of the most respected and largest landholders of Grand Cru vineyard, Domaine Laroche owns 90 hectares of vineyard situated amongst the best crus.

Its headquarters, the Obédiencerie of Chablis, reveals a heritage dating back from the Middle Ages when the Canons of Saint Martin of Tours were making wine. Saint Martin’s relics were hidden in the Obédiencerie for a decade. This exceptional testimony is very much alive: Domaine Laroche still elaborates and ages its Premiers and Grands Crus in these historical cellars. Its wines are a testimony of 1000 years of history!

The Laroche philosophy is based on a very special care of the terroirs in order for each of them to express its own particular characteristics in the glass. The importance of the ecological balance is crucial to maintain the vineyard heritage and to favour its durability. The respect of the soil, of the vine workers and of the environment are Laroche major commitments.