Domaine Louis Michel

Montmain Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay

9.0129 ratings
9.053 pro ratings
Chablis, Burgundy, France
Chardonnay
Duck, Shellfish, Goose, Mushrooms, Manchego & Parmesan, Game, Pork, Squash & Root Vegetables, Chicken, Turkey, Cheddar & Gruyere, Meaty & Oily Fish, White Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Cream Sauces
Top Notes For
Brian S

Solid premier cru and only $50 on the wine list.

Solid premier cru and only $50 on the wine list.

Jan 2nd, 2023
Mark Eastom

Have had before, same notes. Citrus, mineral, slight malo. Really good.

Have had before, same notes. Citrus, mineral, slight malo. Really good.

May 31st, 2022
David Kline

2018 vintage. Lemon dough, green grape, lemon zest, gesso, marble chippings, smoky white mulberries, pink orchid, carnation and cherry blossom bouquet shows chive and crisp green pea, but also lemongrass. Big and juicy lemon, lime zest, green pear skin, white pepper, chive, lime pith, lime juice, green apple, and beet greens. Crisp, refreshing, refined.



#chablis #chablispremiercru #chablis1ercru #montmain #1ercruchablismontmain #louismicheletfils #louismichel #burgundy #whiteburgundy #whiteburg #bourgogneblanc

2018 vintage. Lemon dough, green grape, lemon zest, gesso, marble chippings, smoky white mulberries, pink orchid, carnation and cherry blossom bouquet shows chive and crisp green pea, but also lemongrass. Big and juicy lemon, lime zest, green pear skin, white pepper, chive, lime pith, lime juice, green apple, and beet greens. Crisp, refreshing, refined.



#chablis #chablispremiercru #chablis1ercru #montmain #1ercruchablismontmain #louismicheletfils #louismichel #burgundy #whiteburgundy #whiteburg #bourgogneblanc

Feb 10th, 2022
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

8.9

Good but not epic. Slight ox but a bearable amount.

Good but not epic. Slight ox but a bearable amount.

Nov 15th, 2021
James Forsyth

Attractive with nice minerality, fleshy pear and decent acidity too.

Attractive with nice minerality, fleshy pear and decent acidity too.

Dec 6th, 2018
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Beautiful wine in the mouth. Clean through & though. Well crafted and paired nicely with Hedy’s 3rd course, Butter Lettuce, Creamy Spring Herb Dressing, Bread Crumble and Shaved Radish. Delicious! @PlateAndBottle

Beautiful wine in the mouth. Clean through & though. Well crafted and paired nicely with Hedy’s 3rd course, Butter Lettuce, Creamy Spring Herb Dressing, Bread Crumble and Shaved Radish. Delicious! @PlateAndBottle

May 13th, 2018
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 14 Chablis are really good. This Louis Michel is no different. An excellent example of little intervention of good fruit. This producer uses no oak; which I really appreciate. After you start to appreciate good Burgundy, CA Chardonnays aren't that interesting. Not that I don't ever drink or enjoy some CA Chardonnay producers, I just prefer the cooler climate Chardonnays that don't use new oak. This 14 was clean through and through. Bright citrus, peach, touch of green apple, soft minerality, touch of saline, creamy texture and beautiful round acidity and ripe, elegant finish. Photos of, Louis Michel vineyard, vineyard heat sources to protect the vine buds during their sometimes difficult Spring weather/frosts, Guillaume Michel (Owner/Winemaker) and their Domaine. Producer notes and history...It was largely believed that Michel family had only been cultivating Chablis since 1850. More on that in a bit. The winery is situated right in the heart of the village with 25 hectares spread over the very first slopes that were discovered by Cistercian monks in the 11th century. 40 years ago, the family decided to stop making the wine in wooden barrels, preferring to create clean, pure and precise Chablis without adding artificial woody tastes. I've said it more than once and I'll say it again, if you have good white grapes, strong wood use only covers up good fruit flavor or hides mistakes either in the vineyard or cellar, baring a stylistic choice. Through this philosophy, combined with the limited yields inspired by organic wine-growing techniques, the Domaine has developed a worldwide reputation for fine wine-making in stainless steel tanks. Today, the Domaine is managed by Jean-Loup Michel and his nephew, Guillaume Michel, who is continuing the family tradition. The importance of their work in the vineyards cannot be overstated. Guillaume Michel is a firm believer in the philosophy that if you do a good job in the vineyard, 90 per cent of the work is done when the grapes arrive at the winery. This statement could not be more true in my opinion. It his grandfather who started the philosophy, Guillaume has only continued it and evolved it with modern changes equipment etc.. It’s a matter of preserving the authenticity of each terroir...working with very pure and clean wines. They understand and like to work differences in terroir. Making it very important to have the same vinification for all the different terroirs. It is important to have an aromatically neutral vinification. Up until recently it was believed that the winemaking history of the family began in 1850, but thanks to Guillaume’s mother and her genealogical pursuits the date has been moved back to at least 1640. Around that time a winemaker from nearby Tonnerre settled in Chablis, marking the beginning of the families venture in Chablis. Domaine Louis Michel covers a total of 25 hectares. A very large part (15 hectares) is the domaine’s premier crus. In addition to that there is two hectares of Petit Chablis vines, six hectares of village Chablis and two hectares of grand crus. Vaudesír is the families biggest grand crus. Vaudesír is interesting because it is actually a valley. One side facing south, very hot, producing concentrated and powerful wines. In Grenouilles, Domaine Louis Michel has half a hectare at the top of the slope. This nine hectare grand cru is just over 7 hectares and is owned by the cooperative La Chablisienne. Vaudesír and Grenouilles are quite similar in terms of soil. Vaudesír has a bit more of clay. Les Clos, their third grand cru, is very rocky. Les Clos is the typical Kimmeridgian soil of Chablis. If you're like me and enjoy your white wine with good clean fruit rather than with oak or too much oak but haven't tried Louis Michel wines, pick up a bottle. I think you'll fall in love with the style and the value as many are under $30.

The 14 Chablis are really good. This Louis Michel is no different. An excellent example of little intervention of good fruit. This producer uses no oak; which I really appreciate. After you start to appreciate good Burgundy, CA Chardonnays aren't that interesting. Not that I don't ever drink or enjoy some CA Chardonnay producers, I just prefer the cooler climate Chardonnays that don't use new oak. This 14 was clean through and through. Bright citrus, peach, touch of green apple, soft minerality, touch of saline, creamy texture and beautiful round acidity and ripe, elegant finish. Photos of, Louis Michel vineyard, vineyard heat sources to protect the vine buds during their sometimes difficult Spring weather/frosts, Guillaume Michel (Owner/Winemaker) and their Domaine. Producer notes and history...It was largely believed that Michel family had only been cultivating Chablis since 1850. More on that in a bit. The winery is situated right in the heart of the village with 25 hectares spread over the very first slopes that were discovered by Cistercian monks in the 11th century. 40 years ago, the family decided to stop making the wine in wooden barrels, preferring to create clean, pure and precise Chablis without adding artificial woody tastes. I've said it more than once and I'll say it again, if you have good white grapes, strong wood use only covers up good fruit flavor or hides mistakes either in the vineyard or cellar, baring a stylistic choice. Through this philosophy, combined with the limited yields inspired by organic wine-growing techniques, the Domaine has developed a worldwide reputation for fine wine-making in stainless steel tanks. Today, the Domaine is managed by Jean-Loup Michel and his nephew, Guillaume Michel, who is continuing the family tradition. The importance of their work in the vineyards cannot be overstated. Guillaume Michel is a firm believer in the philosophy that if you do a good job in the vineyard, 90 per cent of the work is done when the grapes arrive at the winery. This statement could not be more true in my opinion. It his grandfather who started the philosophy, Guillaume has only continued it and evolved it with modern changes equipment etc.. It’s a matter of preserving the authenticity of each terroir...working with very pure and clean wines. They understand and like to work differences in terroir. Making it very important to have the same vinification for all the different terroirs. It is important to have an aromatically neutral vinification. Up until recently it was believed that the winemaking history of the family began in 1850, but thanks to Guillaume’s mother and her genealogical pursuits the date has been moved back to at least 1640. Around that time a winemaker from nearby Tonnerre settled in Chablis, marking the beginning of the families venture in Chablis. Domaine Louis Michel covers a total of 25 hectares. A very large part (15 hectares) is the domaine’s premier crus. In addition to that there is two hectares of Petit Chablis vines, six hectares of village Chablis and two hectares of grand crus. Vaudesír is the families biggest grand crus. Vaudesír is interesting because it is actually a valley. One side facing south, very hot, producing concentrated and powerful wines. In Grenouilles, Domaine Louis Michel has half a hectare at the top of the slope. This nine hectare grand cru is just over 7 hectares and is owned by the cooperative La Chablisienne. Vaudesír and Grenouilles are quite similar in terms of soil. Vaudesír has a bit more of clay. Les Clos, their third grand cru, is very rocky. Les Clos is the typical Kimmeridgian soil of Chablis. If you're like me and enjoy your white wine with good clean fruit rather than with oak or too much oak but haven't tried Louis Michel wines, pick up a bottle. I think you'll fall in love with the style and the value as many are under $30.

1 person found it helpfulOct 1st, 2017
Perry Riddle

Stonefruit, citrus, mineral. Pretty fat around the middle. Clean finish.

Stonefruit, citrus, mineral. Pretty fat around the middle. Clean finish.

Jul 4th, 2016
Christanna Honer

Developing a lovely bouquet of hazelnut, baked/bruised pear and apple, kumquat, smoke, spring flowers and hay. Leesylicious.

Developing a lovely bouquet of hazelnut, baked/bruised pear and apple, kumquat, smoke, spring flowers and hay. Leesylicious.

Feb 24th, 2015
Amy Monroe

All stainless steel = bright and lively lemon zest and green apple enhanced by classic Chablisienne minerality. A keeper for sure.

All stainless steel = bright and lively lemon zest and green apple enhanced by classic Chablisienne minerality. A keeper for sure.

Feb 23rd, 2015