2022 Les Hauts de Milly Chablis Grand Cru Bougros

Les Hauts de Milly is produced by the outstanding and well-established artisanal Chablis producer Domaine Bernard Defaix. Bernard and Monique Defaix began with 2 hectares in 1959 and today with a lot of hard work the estate owns 27 hectares in Chablis and 6 hectares in Rully (Cote de Chalonnaise). Since the late 1990’s the Domaine has been managed by Bernard and Monique’s two sons Sylvain and Didier Defaix. Didier manages the vineyards while Sylvain is in charge of vinification and aging. Helene Jaeger-Defaix, the wife of Didier, is the owner of the Rully vineyards and manages the commercial aspects of the domain.

The Domaine is located in the village of Milly, less than 1km NW of Chablis. The Domaine was certified organic in 2009 (Ecocert). They also use various preparations for a biodynamic approach. The wines here are impeccably made and showcase the deep limestone soils that have made Chablis world famous.

Chablis is loved by wine geeks and everyday drinkers alike for its characteristic minerality and finesse. Chablis' distinct terroir is due to a unique soil type found only in Chablis, Champagne, and southern England called Kimmeridgian. An ancient soil, 180 million-year-old to be exact, made up of clay and limestone that contains fossilized oyster shells. These fossilized sea creatures are attributed to Chablis being such an excellent pairing for oysters and fresh seafood. In addition to the minerality, Chablis is known for its incredible structure and mouthwatering salinity. If you haven't had the pleasure of falling in love with Chablis yet, what are you waiting for?

Bougros, just west of the Chablis Grand Cru area, covers 15 wind-sheltered hectares. It enjoys prime sun exposure on a large southwest-facing terrace at the top and a steeper south-facing slope at the bottom. The hillside soil is quite poor, but the upper terrace has deeper soils rich in clay and marls. This mix of sun and soil gives Bougros its unique character.

Elevage: 80% Stainless Steel, 20% Barrel Fermentation (1-5 year old barrels).