Chablis recs please!

[Aspiring Foodie]

I am hosting a Chardonnay wine tasting event this weekend, and want to offer a bottle of Chablis. My price range is 15-30 dollars (in Montreal, where things tend to be more expensive,) but I would be willing to spend a bit more for something that is highly recommended. Do you have any recommendations?

[Aspiring Foodie]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. At the recommendation of a very trusted source, I went with a bottle of Chablis premier cru Montée du Tonnerre Château de Maligny--but erred with the vintage and chose a 2003 over a 2006 at the suggestion of the SAQ employee. Apparently 2003 was a bad year--I didn't realize before the purchase was made. Anyway, the wine turned out to have all of the minerally, stoney qualities you would expect in a chablis but sadly not fruity enough for my taste. I intend to get the 2006 just to taste the difference!

[SteveTimko]

A 2003 might have some age on it to smooth out the rough edges, but I can't think of a reason to recommend a 2003 over a 2006.

[zin1953]

>>> . . . but I can't think of a reason to recommend a 2003 over a 2006. <<<

How about "We gotta get rid of this old inventory"? ;^) Just a thought . . .

[SteveTimko]

Bingo. The 2004s and 2005s probably weren't on the shelves long enough to gather any dust.

[ChefJune]

Foodie: a good Chablis is flinty, not fruity. although undoubtedly an 06 would be better than an 03.

[Aspiring Foodie]

June: Forgive my ignorance, but did you mean that a good chablis should not be fruity at all? In my (albeit limited) experience, it seems I have enjoyed chablis with subtle , secondary fruit flavours. This one seemed downright chalky. If this is indicative of a true chablis, I will need to reconsider my love affair!

[SteveTimko]

Try the 2006, first.

[Maximilien]

Have a look at the SAQ web site ( www.saq.com) and search for Chablis, order them by prices and look at each one in your price range to see if they are available in a store near you.

Go there and ask around; if they do not have a large selection, try to see if the "better" SAQ store have them (in montreal : Beaubien, Maisonneuve, Laurier, Rockland, ...

)

At $30 max, you will have an OK Chablis; The better ones are in the $30-$45 price range.

M.

[ChefJune]

I really love Michel Laroche's Chablis. I could drink them every day.

also there is a really tasty little wine from Vezelay, just outside of the Chablis region that is being made by Raveneau's son that is just delicious. It retails here in US for about $12 because they can't call it Chablis. the winery name is "Henry de Vezelay" and the wine is Cuvee de Vezelay.

[Sam Harmon]

Also, I would avoid the Verget wines. They may be technically grown within the borders of Chablis--but they have nothing in common with what makes great Chablis one of the world's great white wines. Verget's Chablis are pumped up, manipulated and over oaked wines more akin to something out of Napa Valley or Australia than to their neighbors.

[SteveTimko]

Fevre is sold in Canada and is nice.
LAaChablisienne is a cooperative. The one bottling I tried I didn't like but others like it.

[zin1953]

Problem is . . . I don't know what wines from Chablis are available to you. You might be better off posting this on the Quebec board -- people there will have more familiarity with what is available.

[Sam Harmon]

Jean Dauvissat and Jean Marc Brocard are two excellent producers.

[zin1953]

Yes, they are, and I would highly recommend them, as well as Domaine Pinson, Jean-Claude Bessin, Corrine Perchaud, Jean-Pierre Grossot, William Fevre, Robert Vocoret and many others -- but I don't know if they are available in Montereal . . .