Friday Fill-Up - August 5th, 2022
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Dear Artisans,
Everyone is doing backflips after enjoying this wine, so I had to make a minute-and-a-half video to unpack it for you!
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In 1990, Olivier Savary's longtime friend and Chablis legend Jean-Marie Raveneau (the most revered Cult Chablis ranging $225-$800) introduced Olivier to Kermit Lynch.
We all should be glad that happened.
Tastes like a Montrachet yet costs like a Macon:
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Dear friends,
This Friday Fill-Up theme continues with taking care of your needs for Summer, Fall, and well beyond.
Those are very bold claims in the header graphic, and that's not James being bullish about a wine again.
It was imperative for me to find the best sub-$50 Chardonnay, and enough of it, to last through Summer and maybe even beyond.
It seemed almost futile to keep hunting. The import supply-chain meltdown is actually getting WORSE at the West Coast ports, as the workers are about to strike...
Then came this epic 2019 Old Vine Chablis. This is the counterpoint to the "soul-cleansingly-clean Lavantureaux" as this is judiciously aged in Oak, but it's imperceptible. Damn this is good, impeccably balanced, and addicting.
From 50+ year old vines on south facing slopes, you get honey, white flowers and ripe green apple on the nose with explosive orchard fruits and lemon curd on the palate. Long, firm, immaculate, clean mineral finish. Just astounding quality for the money. Not much made or exported and always goes quickly.
These Vivino folk sum it up very well:
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2019 Chablis are so sublime that they fill the huge mid-range void left by Puligny / Chassagne-Montrachet and Meursault. Decanter describes it best in their report:
"2019 is a fine year for Chablis, and that lovers of the wines emanating from this cool northern outpost of Burgundy, should buy with confidence.
In broad terms, it can be viewed as a ‘half-way house’ between the higher acidity levels seen in 2017, and the ripe, rounded, less acidic 2018s."
History and technical information:
Located in Maligny, a village well-poised between Paris and Dijon, just north of Chablis, Olivier Savary and his wife, Francine, have been vignerons since 1984. After a few years selling their harvest, they began producing their own wines and in 1990 Olivier's longtime friend and Chablis legend Jean-Marie Raveneau introduced Olivier to Kermit Lynch. Today, Francine and Olivier are joined by their sons, Maxime and Mathieu, whose ambition and energy ensures a bright future for the domaine.
The clay-limestone hillsides of the Kimmeridgian chain are excellent for growing dazzling, complex Chardonnay. However ideal the soil, Olivier brings his own brilliance to the table, with a judicious use of oak for aging. The grapes from his vineyards throughout the Chablis appellation are blended into one fabulously complex village wine cuvée, with unmistakable aromas of ancient crushed shells and a pronounced, racy mineral structure. The wine comes from 50-year-old vines and demonstrates the typical Chablis crunchy green apple and tart citrus fruit flavors, combined with a wonderful chalky minerality for which Chablis is so revered, and that we have all grown to know and love.
There's 10 cases left that will be gone before Summer ends.
Move fast, but drive safe.
A votre santé,
—James
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Francine & Olivier Savary Chablis Vieilles Vignes
Burgundy, France
Importer's Tasting Notes:
"Old vines, partial barrel aging, and a stylish presentation topped with a yellow wax seal have made this cuvée a KLWM staff favorite for decades. Like seashells drenched in the pulp of ripe orchard fruits, it offers richness along with trademark Chablisien zip, gaining in precision as the juice mingles with our atmosphere. The oak is perfectly integrated, adding a kiss of creamy depth to harmoniously marry all the elements. Dungeness crabs, consider this a warning." - Anthony Lynch
From 50+ year old vines on south facing slopes, you get honey, white flowers and ripe green apple on the nose with explosive orchard fruits and lemon curd on the palate. Long, firm, immaculate, clean mineral finish. Just astounding quality for the money. Not much made or exported and always goes quickly. 13% ABV
Retail Price: $37.00 btl
Average Web: $34.00 btl
Last Call:
$32.99 btl (1-5)
$31.99 btl (6-11)
$29.99 btl (12+)
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