The wines of Chablis are renowned far beyond french borders. The downside: The very name Chablis is spoofed on five continents, often to describe wines of low quality. Close to the vineyards of Champagne, Chablis appellation covers the eponymous village and the 19 municipalities and hamlets that surround it. Made of Chardonnay grown on Kimmeridgian limestone hillsides, the wines owe their character to the nature of the climate, cool and mainly continental - cold winters, warm summers. There are four appellations, Chablis Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and at the top, Chablis Grand Cru. In total, the vineyards of Chablis cover 4845 hectares, what means 17.5% of the total area of the Burgundian vineyard. Often of a pale color with hints of green, the wines of Chablis offer a nice freshness in their youth. After a few years of cellar, they become round and develop a large aromatic panel consisting mainly of fresh fruits, white flowers and dried fruit. The mineral aromas, of flint in particular, are also one of their main characteristics.
