Yet another very polished and thought-provoking set of wines |
Domaine Jean Collet was founded in 1952. At the time domaine comprised just 0.61 hectares and the harvest was sold to the negociants. In 1954 part of the harvest was domaine bottled and in 1959 the first exports to the USA commenced.
Gilles joined his father in 1979 and Romain, the fourth generation returned from wine school in Beaune and working abroad to complete the team in 2009.
Today the domaine has expanded to 40 hectares, from Petit Chablis, via village Chablis and premier cru, up to grand cru. Around 10 hectares are farmed organically.
The holdings include most of the top Premier Cru vineyards including Butteaux, Montee de Tonnerre up to the Grand Crus Les Clos and Valmur.
The style at Collet is directed by the deep historic connection with their vineyard parcels, how they grow, how they’re different from each other and ultimately how they respond in the cellar through their fermentations, and more importantly their cellar aging. Each wine has something to say, and the Collets have taken the route of customizing their approach to exemplify the natural talents of their many different climats.
For example, their “Montmains,” is almost purely Kimmeridgian limestone marl rock and topsoil with next to no clay content. It is made exclusively in stainless steel to keep its edges intact and support its dynamic mineral and textural pressure. By contrast, across the Serein River on the right bank where there is more clay and deeper soils on the same limestone marl bedrock, Montée de Tonnerre is aged exclusively in oak barrels (younger, but none new), a common thread in the French wine world for wines grown in more clay-rich soils. Many vignerons believe that big clay soils need a little sculpting and are better served in oak to round out and polish them rather than in inert vessels, like stainless steel, which can’t introduce oxygen to the aging.
We have added reviews from Jasper Morris MW and Tim Atkin MW. Unfortunately Tim only publishes full notes for wines with scores of 94 or above. We have listed all scores.
Today we feature the 2020 releases from Domaine Jean Collet.
Get your order in and take advantage of our special 25% Pre Arrival Discount Offer. Offer ends midday Friday 29 April 2022.
After that time the Pre Arrival Discount will revert to the usual 15%.
Mix and match as you please. Free shipping for 12 bottles.
We also have a selection of back vintages from Domaine Collet in stock. To view them all click here.
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Chablis 2020
Landed Price $62.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $47.50
Case of 12 Bottles $528.75
From vines on limestone soils from the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridgian and Portlandian era, in the communes of Chablis, Préhy and Villy. This type of soil is defined by an alternation of very compact, very hard limestone layers and softer clayey marls, containing fossilized marine organisms. Vine age 25 years.
Jasper Morris MW
This is a representative blend over 15 hectares, largely from Valvent, Pargues and Fleys. Clear pale lemon colour. Not much nose as yet, juicy fruit style. But the minerals come out on the palate along with a little lemon juice. Certainly makes one salivate. Medium to long finish. 87-89 Points
Tim Atkin MW
89 Points
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Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020
Landed Price $68.50
Special Pre Arrival Price $51.50
Case of 12 Bottles $575.40
The Chablis Vieilles Vignes is planted on the upper part of a slope in the town of Villy, to the north of the vineyard, on massive Portlandian limestone, with a South-East exposure. The Portlandian soil contains more limestone and is less clayey than the Kimmeridgian soil, of which it is the upper part. Vine age is an incredible 85 years!
Jasper Morris MW
From a plantation of 1932 in a vineyard called Les Côtes, on Portlandian soil in Villy to the north of the region. The nose shows a light touch of coconut, not from wood as this is only made in stainless steel, excellent fresh concentration, minerals to the back, a fine natural acidity. Sunny but not hot. Very persistent. 88-91 Points
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Chablis Les Truffieres 2020
Landed Price $73.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $55.50
Case of 12 Bottles $621.20
The Chablis "Les Truffières" is a cuvée from a plot of vines, planted in the commune of Villy, to the north of the vineyard, on massive Portlandian limestone, with a south-east exposure. The Portlandian soil contains more limestone and is less clayey than the Kimmeridgian soil, of which it is the upper part.
Formerly an orchard, the inhabitants of the village went there to pick up truffles. This anecdote is at the origin of the name of our cuvée.
Since its planting in the early 1990s, this 1ha 26 plot has been organically farmed with the use of exclusively organic amendments, and mechanical tillage for weeding and plowing.
Tim Atkin MW
90 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2020
Landed Price $84.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $63.50
Montmains is on limestone soils from the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridgian era, very rich in marine fossils and in particular in Exogyra virgula, a small oyster typical of Chablis soils. It occupies one of the hillsides on the left bank of the Serein with a south-east exposure.
Jasper Morris MW
All in stainless steel, the only 1er Cru without wood, as has been the case since Romain’s grandfather’s day. Certainly, the bouquet is round enough without it. Quite floral, plus white fruit, very little of Montmain’s reductive character. Starts well and kicks on to the end of the palate, some fresh apples, a little citrus, and persistent. The last to finish fermenting. 90-93 Points
Tim Atkin MW
92 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Les Forets 2020
Landed Price $89.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $67.50
Les Forêts occupies a hillside on the left bank of the Serein with a south-east exposure. This plot is composed of blue clay, which makes its soil very compact. This particular terroir gives us wines of serious complexity.
Jasper Morris MW
Made in cement eggs, plus 10% barrel. Fine mid lemon yellow. A particularly classy nose, with a certain depth of fruit lemon scented, very elegant yet with intensity and persistence. Perhaps the best aftertaste to date in this cellar. 92-94 Points
Tim Atkin MW
Vinified and aged in concrete eggs, save the 10% that goes into cigar-shaped barrels hailing from Sancerre, this is a polished, handsome Forêts. It starts off with toasty notes then turns on a spigot of citrus pulp and zest. The nicely compact mid-palate leads to a solid, spryly textured finish. 2022-30. 94 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2020
Landed Price $89.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $67.50
Vaillons is one of Chablis' top Premier Crus. It is on the left bank of the Serein River. Ageing is done 1/3 in stainless steel vats, 1/3 in 80 hl oak barrels and 1/3 in Burgundy barrels. They are blended before bottling. Vine age 40 years.
Jasper Morris MW
A Vaillons blend covering Epinottes, Chatains, Sur les Vaillons, Minots and Roncières. This is partially vinified in young wood then aged for one third each in barrel, foudre and stainless steel after the malolactic. Pale lemon colour. A hint of the vegetal. Clean clear and fresh on the palate, with a fair weight of flesh through the middle. Persistent again. 89-92 Points
Tim Atkin MW
92 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2020
Landed Price $89.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $67.50
Located close to the towns of Fleys and Fyé, near Montée de Tonnerre, on the right bank of the Serein, Le Mont de Milieu faces south. This exposure guarantees it a higher average temperature and longer sunshine, a guarantee of quality for this wine.
Jasper Morris MW
Three x 600 litre barrels made from young vines (2001). Pale colour with a stylishly perfumed right bank nose. Incisive behind the weight of white fruit, working very well this year whereas I felt the 2019 was over exotic.
90-93 Points
Tim Atkin MW
93 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre 2020
Landed Price $89.95
Special Pre Arrival Price $67.50
Montée de Tonnerre is located on the right bank of the Serein next to the Grands Crus and benefits from south-west sunshine. it is generally regarded as the top Premier Cru of Chablis. Aged in 228-litre Burgundy barrels.
Tim Atkin MW
This all goes into barrels for vinification and elevage. Yet aside from a hint of toast, it has so much fresh fruit verve and tension that it isn't exactly easy to tell. There is a strong vein of minerality from the nose to the persistent finish, and the roaring acidity gives this a taut feel. It's spicy and lemony on the palate. 2022-32.
94 Points
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Chablis 1er Cru Secher 2020
Landed Price $106.50
Special Pre Arrival Price $79.95
The Chablis Premier Cru "Sécher" is the result of plot selection since the 2008 vintage. soil in Kimmeridgian fossils, which gives this vintage a recognizable typicity. This plot is worked in organic viticulture. Elevage is in
a blend of 70% stainless steel vats and 30% new oak barrels.
Jasper Morris MW
50% is made in earthenware jars and 50% in new wood. Similar pale lemon colour. The bouquet has a spicy warmth to it, perhaps also coming from the new wood which takes away the dry Séchet character. Not too woody but a bit smoky. The dry stony character of Séchet does emerge behind. I find the treatment a bit bizarre but it should work in bottle. 90-93 Points
Tim Atkin MW
93 Points
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Chablis Valmur Grand Cru 2020
Landed Price $171.50
Special Pre Arrival Price $128.50
The Chablis Grand Cru "Valmur" occupies a central position on the hillside of the Grands Crus. Its shape evokes that of a valley, hence its name “Valmur”. Collet's plot conducted in organic farming benefits from a north-west exposure. The soil is made up of alternating marl and clayey limestone from the Upper Kimmeridgian Jurassic, very rich in marine fossils and in particular Exogyra Virgula, a small oyster typical of Chablis soils. Vine age 45 years.
Jasper Morris MW
From a 1972 planting on the north-facing side. Not yet racked from its barrels, one to three year old wood, will then go to tank until March. The wood is certainly apparent, in the form of fresh shavings of coconut. This doesn’t affect the heart of the wine though. A couple of peaches at the back which is otherwise pleasingly balanced without too much heat, with energy levels that really kick on at the back. 92-95 Points
Tim Atkin MW
These vines are on the cooler, southern side of Valmur, so it's no surprise the fruit is bright and tangy. Pomelo, yuzu and lemon curd take center stage. Toasted almonds add nuance on the palate. There's lilting spice on the finish along with a bit of bustling tannin to add further crunch. 2023-32. 94 Points
Orders may also be placed to [email protected] or phone (03) 9326 5737. Wines will be shipped from France in May.
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Grand Millesime Fine Wine | (03) 9326 5737 | 10/10 Cawley Rd, Yarraville, Vic 3013 | www.grandmillesime.com.au |
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