Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – 2009
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Vineyard Profile
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Domaine Laroche owns 1.12 hectares (2.77 acres) of the 26.33 hectares (65.06 acres) of Les Clos grand cru vineyard. Les Clos is located straight in front of the village of Chablis with a southern exposure. This favorable sunny exposure allows the grapes to achieve excellent ripeness.
- Definition: This vineyard was once completely surrounded by a stonewall, hence the name “Les Clos,” meaning “enclosure” or “walled vineyard” in Burgundy. We know from historical sources that monks from the influential Abbey of Saint Martin at Tours planted vines here in the ninth century.
- 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: 1.12 hectares (2.77 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)
- Malolactic: 100%
- Aging: (3 separate lots) 25% of the wine is aged on fine lees in French oak; 25% in new barrels, 75% in used barrels
- Filtration: Minimum filtration to preserve the maximum natural character of the wine
- Bottled: Under low pressure on a bottling line designed to protect quality
- Bottle Aging: 12 months
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 500 cases
- Production Case Pack: 6/750ml
- Alcohol: 12.5%
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Tasting Notes
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Appearance: Bright yellow/green color
Aroma: Subtle notes of white blossom
Taste: Good balance of ripe white fruit and lively acidity. Exceptionally long finish with vibrant minerality. Elegant and long-lasting.
Aging Potential: 10-12 years; decanting is suggested
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Images
Reviews
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Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – 2009 – 90 points – The Wine Advocate
“Like the Blanchots, the Clos is a wine built mostly on fruit rather than structure or minerality. The 40% French oak is very nicely integrated…”
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Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – 2009
Bright yellow/green color; subtle notes of white blossom; good balance of ripe white fruit and lively acidity. Exceptionally long finish with vibrant minerality. Elegant and long-lasting.
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Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – 2009 – 4 stars – Decanter
“Les Clos is always the most structured and powerful of the grands crus, but this is also elegant, with refreshing fruit and acidity, while retaining a firm structured backbone.“
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Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos – 2009 – 94 points, Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast Online
“Intensely perfumed, this supremely ripe wine has kept all the dense structure of the Les Clos vineyard. Here is an impressive mix of tight structure, ripe pear and citrus, layered with toast and great juicy acidity."