Chardonnay is Burgundy’s most cultivated grape, comprising almost half of the famed winegrowing regions planted land. While some would argue the most coveted white wines are produced in the Côte d’Or, Chardonnay from Burgundy’s northernmost major outpost of Chablis has achieved a quality level worthy of a conversation all its own.

A sleepy village on the banks of the tranquil Serein River, Chablis lies almost halfway between Paris and Beaune. With the exception of Alsace, it is the northernmost world-class still wine-producing region in all of France. Three classifications of quality are produced – Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Chablis Grand Cru – all vinified solely from the Chardonnay grape.

Although each producer has their own beliefs regarding the use of new French oak, the general winemaking style utilizes stainless steel tanks for fermentation and maturation. Consumers can expect citrus and white flower aromas with dry, lean, light-bodied flavors of citrus, pear, minerality, and salinity.

For this week’s Mayacama Wine Offer, we are collaborating with famed French wine importer Kermit Lynch. Raised in San Luis Obispo, the Kermit Lynch name has become synonymous with French and Italian wines.

In 1972, with a $5,000 loan and maybe a bit of gumption, this writer/musician opened Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant with thirty-five cases of wine stacked on the floor. Attracted by the Old-World wine cultures of Europe, Kermit became a retailer, distributor, and national importer for authentic wines that express their terroir.

Henri Costal is a unique collaboration between the well-known Chablis producer Domaine Jean Collet and Kermit Lynch. The project began with a simple barrel tasting with Kermit and led to a custom label, custom vinification, and bottling process exclusively for the American market. The end result of this first tasting was a terroir-driven Chablis from a single vineyard site called Truffières, loosely translated as “site where truffles grow.”

In 2018, owner Romain Collet was digging through his family’s archives and found the original label that his great-grandfather, Henri Costal designed and used when he founded the domaine. Romain revived this historical label and decided to use the Henri Costal name for the Kermit Lynch collaboration. In keeping with the KL mission to preserve historical European wine styles as well as labels, this was a natural fit.

Henri Costal continues to produce the “Les Truffières” bottling and recently they have added bottlings from the premier crus Vaillons and Mont de Milieu. The vines are worked organically, and Kermit and the Collet family together agree on a blend of stainless steel, foudre, and barrel vinifications.

Recent vintage bottlings of Henri Costal have displayed extraordinary purity and finesse. There is no mistaking it—one taste and you are in Chablis territory: zesty minerality, wet stone, freshness and nervosity.

It is my pleasure to bring Mayacama members access to three Henri Costal bottlings, all representative of highly lauded 2020 vintage.

As always please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding the wines.

Thank you for your continued support.

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

Henri Costal, Chablis Les Truffières 2020 -- $35/btl

Henri Costal, Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2020 -- $45/btl

Henri Costal, Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 2020 -- $55/btl

Click here for more information about the wines.