Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2017
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Vineyard Profile
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Chablis—Grand Cru Réserve de l’Obédience is produced from the finest selection of Les Blanchots grand cru vineyards. The eight plots that Laroche owns total 4.56 hectares (11 acres). Each plot is distinctive, with different vine age, location on the slope, rootstock, clone origin and soil depth — implying a variety of styles.
- Definition: The 9th 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. La Réserve de l’Obédience is blended from the best wines of Les Blanchots grand cru, selected for their balance and harmony. Seventy different components kept in tanks, casks or large old wooden vats may be considered for the final blend.
- Viticulture: One man, one plot: 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. Everyone at Domaine Laroche practices “lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using chemical intervention only when required): The vineyard is plowed to aerate the soil and encourage development of the root system, as well as the organic life in the soil. Vines are pruned and trained by hand, with a strict pruning and debudding regimen. Leaf plucking occurs to aerate the canopy and avoid the development of botrytis, while trellising aerates the grapes and provides them with favorable exposure.
- Vine Age: 70 years
- Soil: Blanchots has a unique soil composition, combining typical Chablis Kimmeridgian limestone with a layer of white clay. Blanchots takes its name from this white clay which retains moisture and protects the vines from hydric stress.
- Density: 5,880 vines per hectare (2,380 vines per acre); massal selection from Laroche old vines for the new plantings
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Vintage Report
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A precocious season with buds showing in early April. The cold wave that followed slowed down the growth, leaving good conditions for the flowering beginning of June. This singular season offered beautiful bunches and quality grapes with good health conditions. Once pressed, the juices were precise, straight, with great texture. This vintage will bring well-structured wines with a nice freshness.
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Vinification
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PRESSING: The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. Whole bunches in a pneumatic press, then 12 hours settling at 12° C to 15° C (53° F to 59° F) in specially designed wide tanks.
- Fermentation: 3 weeks (50% in stainless-steel vats where the temperature gradually increases from 16° C to 19° C, (61° F to 66° F); 50% in French oak, of which 15% is new).
- Aging: 9 months aging in 60% stainless steel tanks. The individual lots are blended together from the best wines then bottled and aged for another 6 months.
- Filtration: Minimal filtration is used to preserve and maximize the natural character of the wine.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Alcohol: 12.5%
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Tasting Notes
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The wine begins with the typical floral character of Blanchots, on both the nose and the palate, and then an intense minerality appears. It develops and offers a remarkable aroma complexity, with a superb finish. A velvet texture, from careful aging, on top of the racy character of a Grand Cru Chablis.
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Images
Reviews
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Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2017 – Burghound – 93 Points
Soft but not invisible wood sets off similar if perhaps ever-so-slightly riper aromas. There is noticeably better mid-palate concentration to the more powerful and serious middle weight plus flavors that evidence excellent minerality and salinity on the bone dry, linear and impressively long finale. This too could use more depth but this could well be outstanding with 10 years of bottle age under its belt.
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Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots La Réserve de l’Obédience – 2017 – Vinous – 95 Points
The 2017 Chablis Les Blanchots La Réserve de L'Obédience Grand Cru offers a super-intriguing mix of floral notes and lovely mid-palate pliancy, all in an understated style that is quite distinctive. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, sage, mint and white flowers are all woven together nicely. Bright saline notes give the 2017 lovely freshness and verve on the finish.
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Domaine Laroche Chablis Les Blanchots La Réserve de l’Obédience Grand Cru – 2017 – The Wine Advocate – 93-95 Points
There will be some 3,000 bottles of the 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots La Réserve de l'Obédience, a barrel selection from Laroche's considerable holdings in this important lieu-dit. The wine wafts from the glass with aromas of blanched almonds, Meyer lemon and white flowers that are brighter and a touch more defined than the regular bottling. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with excellent concentration and a deep, ti