2016 Chablis Butteaux
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
(Piuze refers to this premier cru as "the best terroir on the left bank"): Light-medium yellow. Captivating chalky pungency to the aromas of white nectarine, citrus zest, mint and herbs. Intensely flavored and dry but not austere, conveying a sappy, juicy quality and a subtly layered impression. A more intellectual style of wine than the Forêts, finishes with a firm citrus character and excellent precision. Production here was 45 hectoliters per hectare after some losses to mildew; Piuze noted that his neighbors "undertreated" their vines and the wind carried the spores.
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux is very conservative on the nose, almost reluctantly opening with light sea spray and seaweed-like scents. This is certainly very evocative of the sea. The palate is well defined with a pleasant salinity, continuing that marine theme. It is fresh and bright with a punchy, sappy finish. This is a Chablis that is full of character.
While there is a trace of reduction it’s not so much as to dominate the white orchard fruit, especially pear, citrus and iodine-suffused nose. The palate impression of the medium-bodied, concentrated and powerful flavors is less refined though the impressively long and slightly more structured finish offers notably better depth. This solidly constituted effort will need at least a few years of cellaring to more completely harmonize. Jan 18, www.burghound.com, Drink: 2022+