AOP Chablis 2020: top-scoring wines
Andy Howard MW reports that 2020 was a very successful year for AOP Chablis wines, showing a seamless combination of concentration and energy and a distinct step up from Petit Chablis.
Rightly world famous and one of the most important appellations in France, Chablis is produced in the northern part of Burgundy, with the marginal climate giving the wines a distinct freshness and pronounced acidity.
Scroll down for the top-scoring AOP Chablis 2020 wines
The AOP Chablis vineyards sit across 3,702ha and the wines have a very distinct character to Petit Chablis, with notes of green apple and pear fruit allied with good concentration and flinty, stony notes on the palate.
The key differentiator between Chablis and Petit Chablis is the soil. Vines within the AOP Chablis area are planted on Kimmeridgian soils dating back to the Upper Jurassic period.
See the 2020 Chablis full vintage report and top scoring wines
See all 180 Chablis 2020 tasting notes and scores
This limestone-clay soil is rich in fossilised marine deposits, which contributes to the extra layers of complexity and ageability one should expect to see in Chablis.
Chablis is nearly always fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks, with the best wines capable of improving for several years after the vintage, and ageing for several years more.
AOP Chablis 2020: the verdict
Many Chablis AOP wines were very successful in 2020, with plenty of acidity, concentration and crisp fruit. They seamlessly combined ripeness and energy with a saline, mineral finish.
With many of the wines showing a distinct step up from the Petit Chablis and pronounced apple and pear fruit characters, they will benefit from careful ageing.
Quick links
Find links to the full report and analysis of individual appellations below:
Chablis 2020 Full Report | Premier cru Chablis | AOP Chablis | Petit Chablis | Top-value Chablis (coming soon)
AOP Chablis 2020: key producers
- Domaine François Raveneau
- Domaine Vincent Dampt
- Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
- Domaine William Fèvre
- Jean-Marc Brocard
- Samuel Billaud
AOP Chablis 2020: under-the-radar producers
- Domaine Charly Nicolle
- Domaine des Quatre Chemins
- Domaine Jean Claude Courtault
- Domaine Orion
- Domaine Oudin
- Domaine Passy Le Clou
AOP Chablis 2020: top-value wines
- Didier et Agnès Dauvissat, Les Brèches de Fyé, Chablis
- Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller, Chablis
- Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen, Chablis
- Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Chablis
- Domaine Orion, Chablis
Andy Howard MW’s top scoring AOP Chablis 2020 wines:
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Chablis 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Best value 2019 white Burgundy en primeur to buy
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Domaine François Raveneau, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
It's immediately apparent that there is much more density here than with the Raveneau Petit Chablis. Extra layers of concentration, with wonderful purity of fruit...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A relatively recent estate, Céline's father is Jean-Marc Brocard, whilst Frédéric worked at Domaine Durup. They continue to make great strides with their Chablis. This...
2020
Domaine Céline & Frédéric GueguenChablis
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard, Sainte Claire, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Some of the vines here are over 70 years old. Even with a reticent, understated nose one can sense the energy and precision in this...
2020
Domaine Jean-Marc BrocardChablis
Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Vieilles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Cool, restrained, Chablis which needs time to unfurl in the glass. There is a great deal of fruit purity on show though, combined with subtle...
2020
Domaine Séguinot-BordetChablis
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A fine Chablis which manages to be both powerful and concentrated, yet still retains a lovely lift. Plenty of acidity and distinctive mineral flavours on...
2020
Domaine Vincent DauvissatChablis
Domaine William Fèvre, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Domaine wine with 50-year-old vines from a number of vineyards, including north-facing plots underneath Les Lys, north west facing opposite Vaillons and south facing around...
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
Le Domaine D'Henri, Saint Pierre, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
This domaine was created when Michel Laroche sold his interests in Domaine Laroche in 2010 and is named in honour of his father. This Chablis...
2020
Le Domaine D'HenriChablis
Domaine Agnes & Didier Dauvissat, Les Brèches de Fyé, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Produced by Agnès, Didier and Florent Dauvissat in Beines. A crisp, clean, dynamic Chablis with lovely citrus acidity and mineral notes to balance the ripeness...
2020
Domaine Agnes & Didier DauvissatChablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Tête d'Or, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Longer aged than the classic Chablis cuvée, with 25% matured in wood of different sizes. Plenty of weight and intensity from a selection of parcels...
2020
Domaine Billaud-SimonChablis
Domaine Camille & Laurent Schaller, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Domaine Schaller is a family venture based in Préhy. Run by Laurent, with son Camille now in charge of winemaking, the domaine has adopted sustainable...
2020
Domaine Camille & Laurent SchallerChablis
Domaine Jean Claude Courtault, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
An evolving family concern, originally created in 1984 by Jean-Claude and Marie-Chatal Courtault, the business has been bolstered since 2007 by the arrival of daughter...
2020
Domaine Jean Claude CourtaultChablis
Domaine Laroche, Saint Martin, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Classy, understated style of Chablis with a great balance between ripeness of fruit and powerful acidity. The palate has a creamy texture with no jagged...
2020
Domaine LarocheChablis
Domaine Orion, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A new estate, with 10ha based in Préhy, established by Lea Schaller following the retirement of her father in 2019. Very clean, crisp, elegant Chablis...
2020
Domaine OrionChablis
Domaine P-L & J-F Bersan, Cuvée Marianne, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Cuvée Marianne comes from 50-year-old vines, fermented with natural yeasts. Weighty and concentrated, with ripe apricot and red apple fruits, this will age well for...
2020
Domaine P-L & J-F BersanChablis
J Moreau & Fils, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Still quite primary, perhaps as it's a tank sample, but there is great precision here and this Chablis clearly has the concentration and depth to...
2020
J Moreau & FilsChablis
Maison Stephane Brocard, Vieilles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Stéphane Brocard, son of Jean-Marc, set up his own négociant business in 2007. From old vines, this has power on the nose, with concentrated peach...
2020
Maison Stephane BrocardChablis
Roland Lavantureux, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A wine which captures the essence of classic Chablis from the past yet manages to make it modern and more approachable. Lots of concentration of...
2020
Roland LavantureuxChablis
Vincent Dampt, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A complex Chablis, as expected from this leading Milly domaine. As well as purity of fruit flavour, there are extra levels of gunflint, savoury notes...
2020
Vincent DamptChablis
Charly Nicolle, Per Aspera, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
A very complete example of AOP Chablis with concentrated fruit, appealing ripeness of pear, allied with brisk acidity and a fine, lingering, mineral thread. Shines...
2020
Charly NicolleChablis
Domaine Besson, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Domaine Besson's history stretches back over four generations, and with Camille and Adrien now at the helm, the estate comprises all four AOPs over 21ha....
2020
Domaine BessonChablis
Domaine des Quatre Chemins, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Situated in the commune of Fontenay-Près-Chablis, the original family domaine was split in 2016 with Domaine des Quatre Chemins now owned by Isabelle Gautheron. There’s...
2020
Domaine des Quatre CheminsChablis
Domaine Grivot-Goisot, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Classy, weighty Chablis with good concentration and an appealing mineral edge which adds to the fresh acidity on the finish. Typical aromas of white flowers...
2020
Domaine Grivot-GoisotChablis
Domaine Passy Le Clou, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Domaine Passy le Clou is situated in Beine, with the domaine owning 21 parcels which are individually vinified. Very nice purity here with precision on...
2020
Domaine Passy Le ClouChablis
Domaine Vocoret, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Domaine Vocoret is a small family estate dating back to 1713. The label proudly states ‘Qualité, Noblesse, Respect du Terroir’. A generous style with lots...
2020
Domaine VocoretChablis
Domaine William Fèvre, Champs Royaux, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
From purchased grapes, Champs Royaux is an historic mark created in the past by William Fèvre. 5% is fermented in old wood from Bouchard, with...
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
La Chablisienne, La Sereine, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Plenty of concentration here, with mineral, flinty characters counterbalancing the ripeness of fruit on the palate. Good acidity. Will drink early but has the stuffing...
2020
La ChablisienneChablis
Les Marronniers, Les Malantes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Les Malantes Vieilles Vignes shows some very nicely concentrated fruit. There is a touch of peach and apricot here, supported by bright acidity and some...
2020
Les MarronniersChablis
Samuel Billaud, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
From three parcels, one adjacent to Montée de Tonnerre, one by Vaillons and one in Préhy. Restrained and saline, with soft peach fruit on the...
2020
Samuel BillaudChablis
