Chablis 2020: top-value wines
After tasting almost two hundred Chablis 2020 wines, Andy Howard MW selects a dozen that should represent both good quality and value for money when the wines are available to buy.
In Andy Howard MW’s Chablis 2020 vintage report, the top-scoring wines mainly consisted, somewhat unsurprisingly, of grand cru and premier cru wines.
A vintage marked by classicism, both of these quality tiers showed distinct terroir influence in 2020, as well as good ageing potential, although command much higher prices.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for a selection of top-value Chablis 2020 wines
However, Petit Chablis was also very successful in 2020, with many wines showing an attractive stone-fruit character combined with freshness and approachability.
The wines will provide excellent short-term drinking before many of the best Chablis are ready. Petit Chablis retains the drive and purity of Chablis but in a more accessible, less complex way and at more everyday prices.
AOP Chablis wines had lots of acidity and concentration, as well as great energy and a mineral streak, hinting that these wines will benefit from careful ageing. These will therefore offer great value and should be on the radar to snap up quickly.
Quick links to Chablis 2020 top-scoring wines by appellation:
Petit Chablis | AOP Chablis | Premier Cru Chablis | Grand Cru Chablis
The list of value wines below is made up of mostly AOP Chablis and Petit Chablis. However it does also include three premier cru wines, which will provide insight into the ageability and complexity of the higher tiers and which Andy Howard MW also reveals are disarmingly drinkable now.
That being said, as Oliver Bailly advises, make sure to decant the premier cru wines for at least an hour in order to reveal the wines’ true potential.
Which value Chablis 2020 wines to seek out
Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen’s Chablis retails at just £15.99 but shows concentration on the palate and extra layers of flavour, kept in perfect balance by crisp acidity and a fine, mineral finish.
The Chablis ‘Vieilles Vignes’ from Domaine Séguinot-Bordet comes in at just over £20 and offers a great deal of fruit purity and an energy on the palate which makes one want to drink another glass.
To taste a very fine example of AOP Chablis which would compete very effectively against many a premier cru, try Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard’s Sainte Claire Chablis.
You’ll find great value with one of the top Petit Chablis around, punching well above its weight, in Samuel Billaud’s Petit Chablis, retailing at just £17.68
Domaine des Malandes Premier Cru Montmains scored 93 points and will retail between £30-£35 (based on previous years prices) and considering Andy Howard MW highlighted Montmains as being one of the top-performing premiers crus in 2020, this is one to try and get your hands on.
Chablis 2020 wines that scored 91 points or above and retail at under £30:
Daniel Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Fourchaume, 2020 – £25.90 (based on 2019 prices)
Domaine Camille & Laurent Schaller, Chablis, 2020 – £21
Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen, Chablis, 2020 – £15.99
Domaine Sébastien Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Beugnons, 2020 – £29 (based on 2019 prices)
Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Vieilles Vignes, Chablis 2020 – £21
J Moreau & Fils, Petit Chablis, 2020 – £15-19
La Chablisienne, Vibrant, Petit Chablis, 2020 – £16.99 (based on 2019 prices)
Samuel Billaud, Petit Chablis, 2020 – £17.69
Vincent Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons, 2020 – £26.75 (based on 2019 prices)
See Andy’s full Chablis 2020 vintage report and top-scoring wines
Top-value Chablis 2020 wines:
Related content:
Petit Chablis 2020: top-scoring wines
AOP Chablis 2020: top-scoring wines
Chablis 2020 score table
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 des Malandes, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Montmains, Burgundy, France, 2020
The domaine was created in 1949 by André Tremblay, before passing in 1972 to daughter Lyne Marchive. Since 2018 the 29ha estate has been run...
2020
Domaine des MalandesChablis
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 Long-Depaquit, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Vaucoupins, Burgundy, France, 2020
Showing a steely edge to balance the slightly exotic, stone fruit characters on the nose, this is another classy Chablis from Long-Depaquit. A Premier Cru...
2020
Domaine Long-DepaquitChablis
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
Vincent Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons, Burgundy, France, 2020
Vincent trained in the Jura and at Domaine Leflaive before starting to work with his father, setting up his own domaine in 2004. Vincent is...
2020
Vincent DamptChablis
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 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 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 Sébastien Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Beugnons, Burgundy, France, 2020
Les Beugnons is one of the eight climats within the wider Vaillons Premier Cru, with a moderate slope and south to southwest exposure, making it...
2020
Domaine Sébastien DamptChablis
J Moreau & Fils, Chablis, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Eléonore Moreau took over control of vinification at this 14ha estate in 2016. The vines were planted by her father in the 1980s in Poilly-sur-Serein....
2020
J Moreau & FilsChablis
La Chablisienne, Vibrant, Chablis, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
Established in 1923, La Chablisienne continues to set the standard for quality-focused co-operatives around the world. Vibrant and zesty, this is a powerful, concentrated Petit...
2020
La ChablisienneChablis
Samuel Billaud, Chablis, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2020
From plots above Les Clos which Samuel retained when he split from Billaud-Simon, this has a serious, rather complex nose with floral notes and also...
2020
Samuel BillaudChablis
