Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2009
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Vineyard Profile
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Réserve de l’Obédience is produced from the finest selection of Les Blanchots grand cru vineyards. Laroche owns eight different Les Blanchots vineyard plots, each one distinctive, with different vine age, location on the slope, rootstock, origin of clones and soil depth — implying a variety of styles. Vintage conditions also vary greatly. A site with favorable sun exposure may be too warm in sunny vintages; a vineyard with less sun would give more balanced grapes. For these reasons, it would be folly to strive for the best wine from one single vineyard. The grapes of each vineyard site are vinified separately. After seven to eight months of aging, the wines are tasted and judged for their aroma, acidity and richness. After tasting as many as 70 lots, Réserve de l’Obédience is blended from the best wines.
- Definition: The ninth-century monastery, L’Obédiencerie is where monks made the first Chablis, in the town of Chablis itself. The main offices and cellars of Domaine Laroche are located in this ancient stone monastery which is known as the birthplace of Chablis.
- Viticulture: “Lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using chemical intervention only when required): The vineyard is plowed to aerate the soil and encourage development of organic life in the soil. Vines are pruned and trained by hand, with a strict pruning and debudding regimen. Leaf plucking to aerate the canopy and avoid the development of botrytis. Trellising to aerate and give the grapes favorable exposure.
- Size: 4.56 hectares (11.27 acres)
- Vine Age: Average of 35 years
- Density: 6,700 vines/hectare (2,711 vines/acre)
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Vintage Report
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2009 is a vintage to remember with a generous amount of sunny days throughout the vegetative cycle and the ripening season, which paved the way for an early harvest in September. The contrast of sunny days and cool nights resulted in ripe grapes with good freshness and an excellent aromatic synthesis. 2009 is a fruity, complex, balanced and harmonious vintage to be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade.
- Harvest Date(s): September 15-30; manual harvest; hand sorted at the winery
- Yields: 54 hl/ha (4 tons/acre)
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Vinification
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Pressing: Whole bunches in a pneumatic press, then 12 hours settling at 12°-15°C (53°-55°F) in specially designed wide tanks which accelerate the natural settling process
- Fermentation: 3 weeks at 20°C (68°F) in stainless-steel tanks
- Malolactic: 100%
- Aging: 30% of the wines are aged in French oak; 25% of the barrels are new with a moderate toast, which allows a bright and pure fruit expression
- Filtration: Minimum filtration
- Bottle Aging: 12 months
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 200 cases
- Production Case Pack: 6/750ml
- Alcohol: 12.5%
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Tasting Notes
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Appearance: Light, clear, radiant
Aroma: Rich, complex, buttery
Taste: Intense fruit with mineral overtones and fresh acidity in balance. Delicate texture and a long finish.
Aging Potential: 10-12 years; decanting is suggested
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Images
Reviews
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Chablis Grand Cru La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2009 – 92 points – The Wine Advocate
“Laroche’s flagship Chablis Les Blanchots Reserve de l’Obedience is a selection of the estate’s best barrels from Blanchots…considerable depth and density, with a rich tapestry of fruit that tends towards the tropical end of the spectrum.”
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Chablis Grand Cru La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2009 – 88 points – Wine Spectator Online
“On the lean side, offering grapefruit, green apple and green plum notes. Finishes firm…”
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Chablis Grand Cru La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2009 – 91 points – Burghound.com
“…a solidly complex nose of pear, white flowers and a vague whiff of mineral reduction…reasonably good precision to the round, generous and moderately stony flavors…There is good verve to the agreeably dry, clean and relatively persistent finish…”
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Chablis Grand Cru La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2009
Light, clear, radiant color; rich, complex, buttery aromas; intense fruit with mineral overtones and fresh acidity in balance. Delicate texture and a long finish.