2022 Gueguen Chablis Cuvee 1975
Much More than a Pretty Face
May 9, 2024
Mother Nature has been parsimonious with Chablis. She heavily reduced the 2019 and 2020 crops and virtually eliminated the 2021. Hail and frost will reduce the upcoming 2024 harvest. This makes for good quality, but growers have to raise prices so as not to go broke.
Celine (nee Brocard) and Frederic Gueguen have long roots in the area but began their domaine in 2013. They make pure, very well-priced Chablis in a more lightly fruited style.
They make a reserve wine from a parcel planted in 1975, the year of their births. These 49-year-old vines are made for a richer, more florally intense, and expressive wine at a still reasonable price.
We showed the newly arrived 2022 vintage at our tasting last night. On opening, it impressed our tasters as very pretty, and somewhat unsubstantial, deceptively light with floral fruit lightly accented with oak.
Aeration helps young wines of quality show what they are made of. I took the opened bottle home. It was well chilled and “aged” open overnight, revealing a much more substantial wine. Broad and dry, with well-intentioned grace notes of Chablis chalk, it was quite a good wine to drink now with decanting or over the next one to three years. in there cellar Recommended.
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2018 Gueguen Chablis Cuvee 1975
Aroma: Initially pretty and very floral with light oak notes, light in affect, later with air, substantial forward, pretty mineral, very fresh; Mouth: pretty with light oak, later the substance shows through deep chalk, edged with subtle lemony fruit, good length; Very Good Plus (Plus) $29.99; Case, $25.49
Arrives tomorrow
- Len Rothenberg
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