2018 Patrick Piuze, Chablis Premier Cru, Forets

Patrick Piuze approaches Chablis with a singular focus on terroir, hand-harvesting old-vine fruit from the Kimmeridgian slopes of Premier Cru Forêts, a site known for its stony, mineral-rich soils and southeast exposure. Piuze's meticulous vineyard selection and early picking decisions aim to maintain the inherent tension and precise structure of this esteemed climat. In the warm 2018 vintage, which generally delivered ripe and ample wines with moderate acidity, his commitment to vertical pressing and aging in neutral barrels from high-acid vintages allowed for a controlled expression of richness while preserving a saline core. The resulting Chardonnay offers a concentrated mid-palate and a firm, mineral architecture, reflective of both the site's geological reality and Piuze's deliberate intent to convey Chablis' authentic voice. This bottling presents a wine of textural depth, underpinned by the characteristic tension that defines Forêts.