Chablis 2021: top-value wines
After tasting more than 300 Chablis 2021 wines, Andy Howard MW selects 10 that should represent both good quality and value for money when the wines are available to buy.
Chablis 2021: full vintage report and top-scoring wines
Score tables
Chablis 2021 score table – notes for all wines scoring 92 points and above
Grand Cru Chablis 2021 score table
Premier Cru Chablis 2021 score table
ALSO
Individual appellation analysis and their top-scoring wines:
Grand Cru Chablis | Premier Cru Chablis | AOP Chablis | Petit Chablis
Chablis 2021 was a vintage where challenging weather conditions has had a drastic effect on volumes. At the same time, global demand for the wines of Burgundy has continued to grow, resulting in significant upward price pressures. Despite much higher volumes in 2022, it is unlikely to see prices for Chablis falling.
However, Chablis still offers great value for money across all of the different quality tiers.
Petit Chablis provides a fine introduction to the crisp, dry style of the region, although prices are significantly higher than 2018, 2019 and 2020. AP Chablis represents a big step up in concentration, with the impact of Kimmeridgean soils showing through in the majority of wines with additional notes of gunflint, salinity and mineral characters to finish.
These are wines which (in general) will drink well from now but should have the structure and acidity to provide plenty of enjoyment over several years.
Premier Cru Chablis (as with Grand Cru) continues to offer remarkable value in comparison to equivalent wines from the Côte d’Or. With a minimal (or no) use of oak, Premier Cru Chablis really do emphasise individual terroirs and, with less overt fruit ripeness and weight as a result of the cool 2021 vintage, this is a vintage to explore the differences between the left- and right-bank vineyards.
The finest wines are to be found in Montée de Tonnerre and Vaulorent but for value look at the less ‘fashionable’ Premier Crus of Côte de Léchet, Vau de Vey, Vaucoupins and Vosgros – the latter sometimes described as a left-bank Premier Cru with right-bank exposure.
At the top of the Chablis quality tree comes Grand Cru, with Les Clos the largest in area and commanding the highest prices. Although increasing substantially in the last couple of years, Grand Cru from Bougros, Valmur and Blanchot will be much more keenly priced.
Sadly, wines from certain domaines (Francois Raveneau, Vincent Dauvissat) are only available on allocation, whilst those from William Fevre are certainly not cheap.
Fortunately, there are many fine wines from estates such as Billaud-Simon, Louis Michel, Louis Moreau, Roy and Long-Depaquit which will offer great value.
10 of the best
Domaine Gerard Tremblay, Petit Chablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Petit Chablis
Domaine Roland Lavantureaux, Chablis Vauprin
Domaine Celine et Frederic Gueguen, Chablis
Maison Stephane Brocard, Chablis Vielles Vignes
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis Vielles Vignes
Domaine Vincent Dampt, 1er Cru Les Vaillons
Domaine Les Malandes, 1er Cru Les Montmains
Domaine Roy, 1er Cru Fourchaume
Top-value Chablis 2021 wines:
If we have awarded ‘Top value’ to an as-yet unpriced wine, it is based on our predicted pricing.
Roland Lavantureux, Vauprin, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
TOP VALUE & UNDER THE RADAR The new generation arrived in 2010 with the arrival of David & Arnaud, following on from their father/grand-father. Roland first bottled his own wines in 1979 and the domaine has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Vauprin is a special selection on the hill of Vauprin, situated close to Lignorelles. Vines range from 20-80 years old and the parcel is 1.8ha in size. This AP Chablis is notable for the confident way in which oak is used (up to 50%, ranging from new to five-year-old). Lovely density on the palate allied to purity of fruit. Here, the oak really does add a lot of complexity but the Chablis character is still evident underneath. A very fine Chablis.
2021
Roland LavantureuxChablis
Domaine des Malandes, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Montmains, Burgundy, France, 2021
TOP VALUE Produced from vines planted in 1963 by André Tremblay. An elegant and precise Montmains which achieves the balance between ripeness of fruit (more white peach here), crisp apple acidity and a fine, lingering mineral finish. A great example of this premier cru which will drink well for many years if carefully cellared.
2021
Domaine des MalandesChablis
Domaine Roy, Chablis, 1er Cru Fourchaume, Burgundy, France, 2021
TOP VALUE A very elegant, focused example of Fourchaume. Shows the expected weight on the palate yet this is all tempered by a fine line of acidity and a long, lingering, mineral finish. Domaine Roy makes some excellent Chablis and this is particularly good in the context of 2021.
2021
Domaine RoyChablis
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard, Vielles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
Brocard's Vieilles Vignes Chablis is produced from vines with an average age of 46 years. In addition to ageing on lees the wine spends nine months in large foudres. Deeper in hue but still a very restrained, complex wine with classic mineral Chablis notes underneath.
2021
Domaine Jean-Marc BrocardChablis
Maison Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons, Burgundy, France, 2021
Always interesting to compare the Dampt brothers different takes on the same terroir. This is a little more focussed than Sebastien's but equally fine. Doesn't have the extra plushness but is very direct with plenty of acidity and minerality on the long finish.
2021
Maison DamptChablis
Domaine Gérard Tremblay, Chablis, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
TOP VALUE A family estate for five generations, based in Chablis. Comprising 37ha of Chablis, the Petit Chablis comes from 5.5ha with vine age between 10-30 years. Aged for six months on fine lees. Cool, classy, crisp Petit Chablis with an attractive ripeness freshened by citrus acidity and a mineral line. Very typical and good quality.
2021
Domaine Gérard TremblayChablis
Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
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. Very crisp, classy Chablis with density, purity and a fine mix of acidity, mineral notes, white flowers on the nose and concentrated fruit flavours. Just lacks a little of the power of a more classic vintage but this will be drinking very well from now.
2021
Domaine Céline & Frédéric GueguenChablis
Maison Stephane Brocard, Vielles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
From the Closerie des Alisiers label, negociant Stephane Brocard has produced this zesty, grippy Chablis from vines over 35 years in age. Crisp, mineral and with plenty of acidity, there is lots for Chablis lovers to enjoy here. Zesty, lingering, flinty finish.
2021
Maison Stephane BrocardChablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Chablis, Petit Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
From vines above the grand cru, Billaud-Simon have crafted a fresh, precise Petit Chablis which is a fine introduction to the 2021 vintage. Bottled at the end of August. Lots of citrus on the palate, brisk acidity, and plenty of vitality, this is a vibrant example to drink early.
2021
Domaine Billaud-SimonChablis
Domaine Dupré, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2021
Tank sample. Not quite at its best. There is plenty of concentration and focus here but the fruit is a little baked. Sure this is a sample issue rather than with the wine itself.
2021
Domaine DupréChablis
