Premier cru Chablis 2020: top-scoring wines
Andy Howard MW found great consistency across all the premier cru Chablis 2020 he tasted, noticing distinctive terroir influence. Wines that can certainly be enjoyed throughout the next decade, they are also disarmingly drinkable now.
There are 47 climats (named vineyard sites) in Chablis, of which 40 are designated premier cru Chablis, sitting across 778ha. Yields are slightly lower and minimum alcohol levels slightly higher than for AOP Chablis.
Some producers feel that a little oak maturation (perhaps 10-20%) adds to the complexity of the wines, although other leading producers, such as Louis Michel, eschew any form of wood, believing it reduces the focus on specific terroir.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of the top premier cru Chablis 2020 wines
Premier cru Chablis is fantastic value compared to other premier cru wines from the Cote d’Or.
The 40 named climats are located on the left and right banks of the Serein River, each having a distinct character.
See the 2020 Chablis full vintage report and top scoring wines
See all 180 Chablis 2020 tasting notes and scores
Somewhat confusingly, a number of the major premiers crus (Vaillons, Montmains, Montée de Tonnerre and Fourchaume) also have several climats within them.
As a result, it is sometimes possible to see bottles labelled Butteaux or Forêt (both are part of Montmains and can also be named as such) or L’Homme Mort and Vaupulent (part of Fourchaume).
Montée de Tonnerre and Vaulorent are perhaps the highest regarded premiers crus, but any climat, in the hands of a good producer, will produce memorable, terroir-driven wines.
Premier cru Chablis 2020: the verdict
2020 produced wines which combine extra layers of richness and complexity, with a distinctive terroir character.
On the left bank of the Serein, Montmains and Vaillons were particularly noteworthy, while Mont de Milieu and Vaulorent stood out on the left bank, as did the reputable Montée de Tonnerre.
Although deserving of longer ageing, many 2020 premiers crus will be disarmingly easy to drink while young.
Quick links
Find links to the full report and analysis of individual appellations below:
Chablis 2020 Full Report | Premier cru Chablis | Chablis | Petit Chablis | Top-value Chablis (coming soon)
Premier cru Chablis 2020: key producers
- Domaine François Raveneau
- Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
- Samuel Billaud
- Domaine William Fèvre
- Jean-Marc Brocard
- Domaine Long-Depaquit
- Domaine Billaud-Simon
- Domaine Vincent Dampt
Premier cru Chablis 2020: under-the-radar producers
- Domaine Céline et Frédéric Gueguen
- Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller
- Charlène et Laurent Pinson
- Domaine Jean Claude Courtault
- Domaine Ternynck
- Domaine Oudin
Premier cru Chablis 2020: top-value wines
- Domaine des Malandes, Premier Cru Montmains
- Domaine Long-Depaquit, Premier Cru Les Vaucoupins
- Domaine Sébastien Dampt, Premier Cru Les Beugnons
See tasting notes and scores for Andy Howard MW’s top premier cru Chablis 2020 wines:
Related content:
Chablis 2020: full vintage report and top scoring wines
Top scoring Grand Cru Chablis 2019
Top scoring AOP Chablis 2019 wines
Domaine François Raveneau, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
The 2020 Montée de Tonnerre is almost impossibly youthful, with bright, lemony fruit shaded with white blossoms and hints of gunflint and spice. The texture...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine William Fèvre, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaulorent, Burgundy, France, 2020
With 3.65ha spread over eight plots, Fèvre is the largest owner in Vaulorent. Didier Seguier says marl soil gives the density, while Kimmeridgian supplies the...
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
Domaine François Raveneau, Chablis, 1er Cru Butteaux, Burgundy, France, 2020
Butteaux is an older vineyard with an average age of around 45-50 years. Situated high on the hill, this is a cooler, windier site. It...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, 1er Cru Forêts, Burgundy, France, 2020
Intriguing nose of lime and lemon zest, a hint of honey, then mineral, salty characters on the palate. A magnificent premier cru, this has the...
2020
Domaine Vincent DauvissatChablis
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
Dauvissat’s small, 0.3ha Montée de Tonnerre parcel is in Côte de Bréchain. This is a cool, intense wine with the mineral character of Montée de...
2020
Domaine Vincent DauvissatChablis
Domaine William Fèvre, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
Fèvre has three parcels in Montée de Tonnerre (its purest, most mineral premier cru): Chapelot, Pied d'Aloup and Côte de Bréchain, all facing different ways....
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
Produced from three plots, one of which - Pied d'Aloup – is on average 84 years old. Intense nose, with a focused and pristine fruit...
2020
Domaine Billaud-SimonChablis
Domaine François Raveneau, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Montmains, Burgundy, France, 2020
Raveneau's Montmains lies on very different soils to Forêts (here, they are very thin with vines an average of 35 years old). Despite being a...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
As expected from the master, Jean-Marc Brocard, this is a very fine expression of Montée de Tonnerre which marries power and elegance in the same...
2020
Domaine Jean-Marc BrocardChablis
Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Chablis, 1er Cru Fourchaume, Burgundy, France, 2020
The Séguinot’s roots in Maligny date back to 1590. This is a complete Fourchaume from Jean-François Bordet which balances the richness, concentration and intensity of...
2020
Domaine Séguinot-BordetChablis
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, 1er Cru Séchet, Burgundy, France, 2020
Dauvissat's Séchet vines lie on deep soils, rich in seashells. Disarmingly drinkable already, this has a nicely integrated layer of subtle oak which adds further...
2020
Domaine Vincent DauvissatChablis
Roland Lavantureux, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaudevey, Burgundy, France, 2020
Roland founded the domaine in 1978, with sons Arnaud and David now running the business. Based in Lignerolles, the domaine now covers 21ha. Of this,...
2020
Roland LavantureuxChablis
Samuel Billaud, Vieilles Vignes, Chablis, 1er Cru Séchet, Burgundy, France, 2020
One of the special Samuel Billaud cuvées, the old vines really adding lots of extra density and concentration. Green apple on the palate, with a...
2020
Samuel BillaudChablis
Charlène & Laurent Pinson, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
A very classy, precise Montée de Tonnerre which has all the components needed to develop into a lovely drink with another year or two in...
2020
Charlène & Laurent PinsonChablis
Daniel Dampt, Chablis, 1er Cru Fourchaume, Burgundy, France, 2020
Full-bodied, dramatic Fourchaume, with weight and density derived from sun-drenched fruit all balanced by fine, crisp apple acidity. Generous and fleshy, this is not at...
2020
Daniel DamptChablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Chablis, 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, Burgundy, France, 2020
Very elegant, cool and driven on both nose and palate. Fine citrus acidity, a thoroughbred with finesse and focus. Lots of potential. Produced from four...
2020
Domaine Billaud-SimonChablis
Domaine Billaud-Simon, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons, Burgundy, France, 2020
From a selection of parcels in Sécher, Chatains, Roncières and Mélinots. Harvested separately and fermented before blending. Bright, very zippy, lemon acidity, crisp, floral, and...
2020
Domaine Billaud-SimonChablis
Domaine Céline & Frédéric Gueguen, Chablis, 1er Cru Vosgros, Burgundy, France, 2020
An unusual left-bank premier cru in that, despite facing south/southwest, Vosgros is generally a slower maturing climat. This is largely down to the limestone-rich soils,...
2020
Domaine Céline & Frédéric GueguenChablis
Domaine de la Mandelière, Chablis, 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, Burgundy, France, 2020
Mont de Milieu encompasses 44ha of sun-drenched slopes which give the wine additional power, while retaining freshness from the limestone soils. This is a fine...
2020
Domaine de la MandelièreChablis
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 François Raveneau, Chablis, 1er Cru Forêts, Burgundy, France, 2020
Raveneau's Forêts vines are situated at the bottom of the slope, lying on deeper soils. An elegant, rather than demonstrative premier cru, this Forêts is...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine François Raveneau, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons, Burgundy, France, 2020
Raveneau's Vaillon is planted on very steep slopes. Although the climat is often characterised by direct exposure to the sun, their vines are situated in...
2020
Domaine François RaveneauChablis
Domaine Gérard Tremblay, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Montmains, Burgundy, France, 2020
Gérard Tremblay is the fifth generation at this family domaine and is assisted by his wife Hélène. A generous Montmains which balances pure, ripe fruit...
2020
Domaine Gérard TremblayChablis
Domaine Laurent et Céline Notton, Chablis, 1er Cru Vaugiraut, Burgundy, France, 2020
Céline and Laurent Notton's Vaugiraut is produced from vines planted in 1935, and it has the aromatic intensity which this left-bank climat is renowned for....
2020
Domaine Laurent et Céline NottonChablis
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 William Fèvre, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Lys, Burgundy, France, 2020
Very cool north-facing site, which is a sub-section of Vaillons and home to 50-60-year-old vines producing small, very concentrated berries. Intense and fruit-driven but has...
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
Domaine William Fèvre, Chablis, 1er Cru Les Montmains, Burgundy, France, 2020
A wine from a selection of sites over 3.9ha in Butteaux, Forêts and Montmains. Butteaux is very cold and mineral, while Forêts is elegant and...
2020
Domaine William FèvreChablis
Samuel Billaud, Chablis, 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, Burgundy, France, 2020
Most of the cuvée is produced from Samuel's own vines and 20% is matured in demi-muid of 450-600 litres. Lime and orange zest notes on...
2020
Samuel BillaudChablis
Samuel Billaud, Chablis, 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, Burgundy, France, 2020
Typical Montée de Tonnerre, with an elegant palate yet full of concentration and energy. Manages to be both rich and weighty, yet with lots of...
2020
Samuel BillaudChablis
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
