Domaine Servin Montee de Tonnerre 2023 750ml

Product Info

89-91pts Vinous Media
The 2023 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is sourced from a vineyard that is gradually producing lower yields. It is matured entirely in tank. It has a fragrant bouquet with light apricot and peach skin aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, and a touch of reduction. Peach and touches of pineapple emerge toward the finish. Fine. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2032

Australian winemaker Marc Cameron greeted me at Domaine Servin. Before we set about tasting, he told me that the deluge earlier this year had caused their cellars to flood. Fortunately, there was not too much damage. “It was one of our longest harvests,” he told me as we broached their 2023s. “It lasted 17 days. This was partly due to flowering. We started on September 8. We also had to dodge the heat on some days. It is hard to compare 2023 with another vintage. Some cuvées are average in alcohol, and others higher. Some acidity levels are good, and others are a bit lower. The yield was between 65 to 85hl/ha.” - By Neal Martin on June 2024

Terroir
The Montée de Tonnerre vineyard lies on the right bank of the Serein River in Chablis, directly adjacent to the Grand Cru Blanchot. The soils here are Kimmeridgian limestone and marls – white clay and fossilised oyster shells (ostrea virgula) add power, minerality and clarity of expression. The average vine age at Domaine Servin for this plot is around 37-39 years, with some up to 54 years old. Cool nights and bright mountain-light, coupled with this terroir, yield fruit with both intensity and poised freshness.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Domaine Servin ferments and matures this wine exclusively in stainless steel tanks, without new oak, thereby preserving clarity, minerality and terroir expression. The 2023 vintage is reported 12.5% ABV. The estate follows sustainable viticulture practices, and in this climat (vineyard site) yields are managed to emphasise concentration. The house itself describes the wine as “supple and elegant … in the lineage of the grands crus” thanks to its placement and soils.

Tasting Notes
On the nose, expect aromatic precision with fresh lime zest, pear-skin, wet stone minerality and hints of dried white flowers and a touch of anise. The palate is deep, taut and well-driven: there’s a vibrant core of fruit, excellent acidity and a spine of chalky minerality and saline tension. The finish is long, refined and impeccably balanced – this is a Chablis of substance, ready to evolve gracefully.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve chilled at about 10-12 °C (50-54 °F) in a white wine or Burgundian glass with some space for aromatics to develop. The clarity, minerality and brightness of this wine make it ideal with refined seafood dishes such as steamed scallops, oysters on the half shell, or sole meunière with a lemon-butter sauce. It also pairs beautifully with mild white fish, or simple poultry preparations like roast chicken with herbs and lemon. A crisp chèvre or young Comté will match the wine’s freshness. Given its structure and quality, decanting is not necessary but allowing it to warm slightly in the glass after pouring will open up the aromas.