2008 Domaine Philippe Goulley Chablis Montmains Premier Cru

Description

A lovely Premier Cru Chablis, early in its aging arc. Six years old, but surprisingly youthful-looking: light straw with glint of green. The nose is just beginning to come round the bend: hints of apple-like fruit remain, but the gunflint/mineral/wet stone dimension starting to grow. Much broader on the palate than Goulley’s Petit Chablis, of course…but still an elegant mouthful, beautifully balanced. Mouth-watering acidity helps a lot.

Philippe Goulley is a pioneer in the region of Chablis, having started organic farming in his vineyards well ahead of the curve in 1991. The Domaine comprises almost 13 acres of vine within Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Chablis Premiers Crus Montmains and Fourchaume. All vineyards within Chablis benefit from Kimmeridgian clay soils, which are optimal for creating the crisp, delicious Chardonnays of the area. In addition to his organic principles, Philippe feels that winemaking should be done with the utmost respect for the environment, and with as little intervention as possible. To that end, he employs spontaneous fermentation, uses only very small doses of sulfites, and does not use any animal products in the creation of his wines. Domaine Philippe Goulley is also a member of BioBourgogne, a group of like-minded organic farmers and producers within the region of Burgundy.