Domaine Louis Michel et Fils, Chablis
Domaine Louis Michel er én af Chablis’ ”gamle” familie-producenter, med beliggenhed helt centralt i byen.
Der er dog ikke noget gammelt og støvet over hverken domainet eller vinene!
Guillaume Michel er nu i spidsen for domainet, som råder over en imponerende portofolio med 3 Grand Cru’er, 8 Premier Cru’er samt både Chablis og Petit Chablis.
Alle vine vinificeres ens p...
Louis Michel's old-vine Butteaux comes from vines with an average age of 65 years (45 years in the 'standard' bottling). The soil here is white clay - very dense in texture and poorly drained. An excellent balance of power and richness here with lemon/lime notes on the palate, all kept taut and in line by the vibrant hit of acidity. This could compare favorably with many a grand cru. - Andy Howard MW
Back in the fleshier style so for once I may have a preference for the regular. But then I love it on the palate with just a little bit of fresh red fruit mixing in. This has been racked a second time and sulphured which may explain the nose. The finish is excellent and very well poised. - Jasper Morris MW
The 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes will be bottled later than usual, as Michel was still waiting on the delivery of glass bottles when I visited—but extra time on the fine lees certainly won't do it any harm. Exhibiting aromas of pear, white flowers, freshly baked bread, confit citrus and iodine, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with terrific depth and tension. - William Kelley
Pale colour with both lemon and lime tints. Ripe, perfumed fruit on the nose, not exaggerated. Actually, this comes out really attractively at the finish and is much more saline in the mouth than the non Vieilles Vignes version. Better balance, carrying its alcohol (13.7%) without difficulty. - Jasper Morris MW
The 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes is excellent, mingling aromas of pear, citrus oil and warm bread with hints of iodine. Bottled later than the younger-vine cuvée of Butteaux, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with racy acids and chalky grip. - William Kelley
Spændstig, men ganske rund og moden. Fin, gennemgående syre. Fornem balance, imponerende længde. Klart bedre med lidt ilt, honningnoter ankommer, mineraler – den kan ligge, men behøver det ikke, den er drikkeklar nu. - Niels Lillelund
The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes has turned out very well, offering up aromas of green apple, pear and peach mingled with hints of smoke, dried white flowers and paraffin wax. Medium to full-bodied, textural and layered, it's one of the deeper, more concentrated premiers crus in the cellar this year. As usual, it numbers among the highlights of the Louis Michel portfolio - William Kelley
The 2018 Chablis Butteaux Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru has a clean, precise bouquet with delicate touches of pressed yellow flower petals interlaced with crushed stone, chalk and honeysuckle. The palate is well balanced with a lovely texture, a fine bead of acidity and a mineral-driven finish that is very poised and full of energy. This comes recommended. A superb Butteaux. - Neal Martin
A formidable rendition of this reliably superb cuvée, Michel's 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with a complex but reserved bouquet of fresh peach, crisp yellow apple, iodine, mandarin oil and paraffin wax. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep, dense and concentrated, with a racy spine of acidity cloaked in vibrant fruit, concluding with a long, searingly saline finish. This is well worth seeking out. - William Kelley
The 2017 Chablis Butteaux Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru is truly fascinating. In this vintage, the Vieilles Vignes is airy and lifted, with its weight and power more implied than overtly stated. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, crushed rocks and white pepper give the 2017 a striking aromatic top register. This is such a gorgeous wine. - Antonio Galloni
