Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils

One of the oldest and most respected names in Chablis with superb vineyard holdings reflecting the families very long history in Chablis, this branch of the Moreau family is headed by Christian and now his son Fabien who is the winemaker and manager.

Possessing magnificent vineyard holdings built up in some of the very best vineyard areas of Chablis by the family over generations (including nearly 8 hectares out of Chablis’ total 92 hectares of Grand cru), this small but remarkable estate has in just a few years established itself as one of the leading producers of Chablis producing consistently outstanding wines.

With relatively small (but very well sited) holdings in Petit, village and 1er cru Chablis, the highlights here are undoubtedly the amazing range of Grand cru vineyards including one single holding of approximately 3 hectares in Les Clos as well as .41 hectares of Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos plus slightly smaller holdings in Valmur, Blanchots and Vaudesir.

A combination of exceptional vineyard sites, old vines, brilliant wine-making and fastidious care in every step of production has resulted in these wines being regarded as amongst the very best produced in Chablis. Now the wines are gaining in even clearer expression with the vineyards having been certified organic since 2013 and together with some new tanks and other investments the results are showing clearly in the wines with each vintage. These are wines of precision, crystal clear typicity, and elegance, that will age classically while enabling tremendous enjoyment throughout their lives.

2022 vintage
This 12.5 ha domaine is directed by Christian Moreau and his son Fabien, who described the 2022 vintage as “yet another one where we suffered significant frost damage that I would estimate cost us between 25 and 30% of the potential crop. However, because there was a generous fruit set as well as good fecundity of the secondary buds, we still brought in good yields. There was also a huge rainstorm at the end of June that prevented any significant heat stress during the mostly hot and dry months of July and August. We chose to begin picking on the 1st of September and the first 3 days were hot and sunny. However, a large storm on the 4th changed the yields dramatically as they were around 40 hl/ha before but 50 to 60 hl/ha afterwards! The fruit couldn’t have been any cleaner so there were no sorting losses. Potential alcohols, even after the rain, remained good as they ranged from 12.3 to 13.1%. The effect of the rain on the before and after yields can be seen in the wines as we picked the grand crus before as they were, as is almost always the case, the ripest. In particular, there is better acidity and density to the wines picked before and overall, the style of the 2022s is generous and forward but with reasonably good typicity and balance. They should be attractive young but be capable of repaying short to mid-term cellaring.” I also retasted the range of 2021s, which were bottled between September, 2022 and February 2023. For several years, the domaine was bottling the Chablis villages, Vaillons and Cuvée Guy Moreau under the Diam brand composite cork. However, since 2020, all of the wines are stoppered using Diam.
Burghound October 2023

WINE NOTES AND REVIEWS

2022 Petit Chablis - SOLD OUT
From vines located at the top of the hill of Grand Crus only metres from the Grand cru Valmur and also this wine includes another very small 0.4 ha planting also at the crest of the hill of Grand Crus (just above Vaudesir) that the Moreau family have planted more recently. This wine shows amazing depth and detail and provides remarkable value. An absolute bargain but unfortunately very limited quantities available as this is their smallest holding (after the tiny 0.41ha of Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos). Thankfully Australia and Norway receive the lions share of this tiny production which is perhaps too small to share with the rest of the world. Don’t delay as this always sells out very quickly!
Review for 2019 vintage ”I understand that you are unlikely to find this wine unless you live in Australia or Norway. Consumers in those countries should pile in quickly! It comes from just 0.50ha above Valmur and 0.27 above Vaudésir. This is really gorgeous, very grapey along with a lime-laden nose. Just a spicy hint of fully ripe grapes. Attractively clear cut, fine acidity behind, riotously juicy. This weighs in at 12.6% alcohol. Tasted: July 2020” Jasper Morris, Insideburgundy.com, December 2020

2022 Chablis AC - SOLD OUT
Aged mostly in stainless steel with 15% of the blend this year seeing barrel ageing. 40+ years old vines. Comes mostly from very old vines situated in Les Pargues on the hill located between the Premier Cru sites of Montmains and Vosgros. This terroir has historically always been very highly regarded by locals and produces wines of extra depth and character. This parcel is blended with a cuvee from the village of Beru in the east which Fabien describes as naturally reductive, and more recently a parcel from behind the hill of Grand cru’s towards Fontenay. The blend of these 3 terroirs brings extra complexity and a perfect balance of generosity from Les Pargues, coolness and minerality from Fontenay together with reserve and finesse from Beru.

2022 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon - SOLD OUT
From 3.8 ha of 30 to 70+ y.o. vines with a south, south-east exposure. Hand harvest, natural yeast ferment and aged 2/3rd’s in tank and 1/3rd in barrique for 6-8 months. This wine in recent years is showing even greater definition and class. Is it from the organic viticulture, new tanks and equipment giving sharper focus, or now that Fabien has nearly 20 vintages of experience in creating what has become one of the most seamless and perfectly formed 1er cru Chablis’ to come from this appellation. You be the judge, but be quick as this is always the first to sell out.

2022 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon ‘Guy Moreau’ - due 2024
From vines planted in 1933. 70% vinified in tank and 30% in oak, less than 2% new).
(from vines planted in 1933 in Vaillons proper). A slightly cooler nose reflects notes of white pepper and a touch of the exotic while the wood treatment, while subtle, is a bit more noticeable. The old vines are in evidence as the mouthfeel of the medium-bodied flavors is markedly denser as the sappy extract coats the palate while buffering the moderately firm acid spine shaping the very dry, more complex and slightly long finale. Lovely. (90-93)/2029+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots - due 2024
From a tiny 0.10ha east facing holding near the top of the hill with a cooler east-facing exposure.
(from a tiny .10 ha parcel near the top of the slope). Discreet but not imperceptible wood sets off ripe liqueur-like aromas of spiced pear, acacia blossom and moderate Chablis typicity. There is excellent richness and midpalate density to the relatively powerful mineral-driven flavors that deliver fine length on the sappy bitter lemon-inflected finale. This delicious effort could use better depth so a few years of keeping should be beneficial. (91-94)/2030+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir - due 2024
From a tiny 0.50ha plot of vines planted in 1998 with a south-east exposure located near the top of the hill of Grand cru’s.
(from a .50 ha parcel of vines on the ‘sunny’ side that were replanted in 1998; vinified in stainless but with the élevage in older wood). This is also aromatically cool with its pretty mix of pear confit, mineral reduction, floral and more obvious Chablis typicity. There is a really lovely sense of vibrancy to the energetic middleweight flavors that possess a gorgeous texture while exuding a fine bead of minerality on the long, dry and beautifully well-balanced finale. This is pretty much textbook Vaudésir that is very much a wine of finesse. (92-94)/2030+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur - due 2024
From vines average age over 40 years old. Half of the holding of the estate has been re-planted in recent years so quantities of this wine are reduced recently.
(from a full 1 ha parcel). More evident wood frames ripe aromas of white fleshed fruit, lemon-lime, mineral reduction and a suggestion of quinine. The exceptionally rich yet intense and powerful big-bodied flash a taut muscularity on the impressively long, very dry and impeccably well-balanced finale. (92-94)/2032+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - due 2024
From a single 2.9ha plot of vines that goes from the very bottom of the slope to close to the top of the vineyard. This remarkable holding is arguably the most representative Les Clos from the whole vineyard. Vines here are aged mostly from 45-75 years of age. The wine is aged about 1/3rd in barrel (about 10% new) and 2/3rds in stainless steel tanks.
(from a huge, and single, 2.9 ha parcel). Moderate wood is present on the overtly floral-suffused nose of mostly white fleshed fruit, especially pear and apple, along with notes of citrus confit, acacia and oyster shell whiffs. There is excellent richness and concentration to the markedly powerful larger-scaled flavors that coat the palate on the overtly stony, dry and compact finale. At least moderate patience will be required as this is pretty tightly wound. (92-95)/2032+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos - due 2024
A tiny 0.41 ha strip of vines located at the bottom of Grand Cru Les Clos.
(from a .41 ha parcel located at the bottom of the hill in Les Clos). More apparent wood is present on the otherwise similar nose. There is however more richness and volume to the slightly bigger-bodied and more concentrated flavors that also brim with sappy dry extract while exhibiting outstanding length on the powerful and equally compact finale. This isn’t quite as detailed, or as mineral-driven on the palpably citrus-inflected finish and overall, these two wines are qualitatively quite similar even if they offer two different expressions. (92-95)/2032+ Burghound.com , October 2023

2021 vintage - SOLD OUT

”Huge damage in every place in Chablis (and in every vineyard in France…). We had rain and -6°c after, the day after some snow….the worst script you could imagine. The result for us: we saved so far, our Les Clos, the Clos des Hospices and 1.5ha of Vaillon with our frost protection. The rest is burn at 70-90%..... :=((( What we saved, represent 1/3 of our vineyard, but it’s very hard to go in other vineyards to see the disaster…. Which is unique is that every Village in the appellation is damaged. Normally you have always some place which survive, but not this time. But in 2021, the Petit Chablis is probably the most affected by the frost. The plot over Valmur is almost completely burn, the one over Vaudésir probably 50% damaged….” Fabien Moreau

2021 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon ‘Guy Moreau’
From vines planted in 1933. 70% vinified in tank and 30% in oak, less than 2% new).
”(from vines planted in 1933 in Vaillons proper). Here there is no reductive funk to the pretty and very floral aromas of spice, pear, apple and quinine that are trimmed in more prominent wood. The old vines are very much in evidence on the concentrated, palate coating and rich bigger-bodied flavors that possess focused power on the saline and intensely bitter zest-suffused finish. This should be excellent in time. (90-93)/2028+” Burghound.com , October 2022

2021 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots
From a tiny 0.10ha east facing holding near the top of the hill with a cooler east-facing exposure.
”(from a tiny .10 ha parcel near the top of the slope). Here the wood treatment is more subtle though not invisible, and it easily allows the aromas of lemon-lime, sea breeze and white fleshed fruit scents to shine. The racy, intense and tension-filled middleweight flavors possess a bracing salinity on the dry, chiseled and firm finale. This is lovely and a wine that should also repay mid-term patience. (91-94)/2029+” Burghound.com , October 2022

2021 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir
From a tiny 0.50ha plot of vines planted in 1998 with a south-east exposure located near the top of the hill of Grand cru’s.
”Firm reduction renders the nose unreadable today. I very much like both the texture and the intensity of the refined yet powerful medium-bodied flavors that exude evident minerality on the detailed and strikingly long finish. This is a wine of finesse and punch and one that should amply repay extended keeping. (92-95)/2031+” Burghound.com , October 2022

2021 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur
From vines average age over 40 years old. Half of the holding of the estate has been re-planted in recent years so quantities of this wine are reduced recently.
”The one hectare parcel that constitutes the 2021 Chablis Valmur Grand cru yielded five barrels this year. This also has a very heavy reduction and is quite yeasty at the moment. The palate is well balanced with a marine influenced entry, flecks of white chocolate complementing the citrus fruit with a longer finish than the Blanchot. Fine sour lemon mixed with orange rind on the aftertaste. Excellent. (92-94)/2026-2050” Neal Martin, Vinous Media, June 2022

2021 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
From a single 2.9ha plot of vines that goes from the very bottom of the slope to close to the top of the vineyard. This remarkable holding is arguably the most representative Les Clos from the whole vineyard. Vines here are aged mostly from 45-75 years of age. The wine is aged about 1/3rd in barrel (about 10% new) and 2/3rds in stainless steel tanks.
”(from a huge 2.9 ha parcel). Here too the nose is presently dominated by reduction and wood toast. More interesting are the sleek, intense and ultra-fresh middleweight plus flavors that possess excellent size, richness and power where the latter suffuses the sappy, muscular and saliva-inducing, moderately dry and compact finale. This very promising effort is going to need at least a decade to realize its full potential. Impressive. (92-95)/2031+” Burghound.com , October 2022

2021 Chablis Grand Cru Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos
A tiny 0.41 ha strip of vines located at the bottom of Grand Cru Les Clos.
”(from a .41 ha parcel located at the bottom of the hill in Les Clos). This is also reduced and toasty on the nose. Otherwise, the rich, powerful and imposingly concentrated larger-scaled flavors brim with both sappy dry extract and minerality on the massively persistent, balanced and agreeably dry finale. I generally don’t find a great deal of qualitative difference between the Hospices and the regular cuvée but in 2021 the Hospices has just bit more overall depth, at least at this early juncture. (93-95)/2033+” Burghound.com , October 2022

2020 vintage - SOLD OUT

”Very fresh, mineral vintage with less alcoholic level and nice tension. A little bit away from the 2 last “warm” vintages 2018 and 2019. For the 2020, we produce some good yield, around 52 to 58 hl/ha, which is very good, between the production of 2018 and 2019, and regarding the style we have more minerality / tension compare to the previous vintages.” Fabien Moreau

2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon ‘Guy Moreau’
From vines planted in 1933. 70% vinified in tank and 30% in oak, less than 2% new).
”(from vines planted in 1933 in Vaillons proper). Once again there is a touch of fruitiness to the more floral-inflected aromas of citrus, iodine and quinine. I very much like the texture of the sleek and delineated medium-bodied flavors that are more powerful than those of the regular cuvée while offering notably better depth on the youthfully austere and persistent finale. (90-93)/2026+” Burghound.com , October 2021

2020 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots
From a tiny 0.10ha east facing holding near the top of the hill with a cooler east-facing exposure.
”The Blanchots chez Moreau is the family’s smallest holding in a grand cru, so this is a wine that is never easy to find in the market. The 2020 version will be well worth a special search, as it too is a lovely bottle in the making. The nose delivers a lovely, youthful combination of tart orange, apple, beeswax, a complex base of chalky soil tones, gentle notes of new oak and a topnote of white lilies. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully delineated, with fine depth at the core, excellent transparency and bounce, zesty acids and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. Fine, fine juice. 2028-2070. 94+.” John Gilman, viewfromthecellar.com, January 2022
”(from a tiny .10 ha parcel near the top of the slope). Here too there is just enough wood to mention framing ripe aromas of smoky mineral reduction, prominent floral nuances and iodine whiffs. The mouthfeel of the lilting medium weight flavors is also notably refined with equally good punch suffusing the sneaky long and well-balanced finale. This should reward moderate patience. (91-93)/2027+” Burghound.com , October 2021

2020 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir
From a tiny 0.50ha plot of vines planted in 1998 with a south-east exposure located near the top of the hill of Grand cru’s.
”The 2020 Chablis “Vaudésir” from Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils is another fine, fine bottle in the making. The bouquet is pure and precise, wafting from the glass in a blend of pear, fresh lime, a lovely base of flinty, chalky soil tones, a discreet touch of vanillin oak, dried flowers, paraffin and a bit of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and very long on the backend, with a superb core of fruit, lovely minerality and cut and a long, beautifully balanced and classy finish. First class Vaudésir! 2028-2070. 94+.” John Gilman, viewfromthecellar.com, January 2022
”(from a .50 ha parcel of vines that were replanted in 1998). A deft application of wood sets off everso-mildly exotic aromas of elegant and pure white and yellow orchard fruit, acacia blossom and whiffs of ocean breeze and shrimp shells. There is excellent intensity to the refined, restrained and lilting but punchy middle weight flavors that conclude in a balanced, lingering and harmonious finale. This is very Zen in its delivery. (91-94)/2027+” Burghound.com , October 2021

2020 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur
From vines average age over 40 years old.
”The 2020 Valmur chez Moreau was already assembled in tank, but the wine was in fine form and absolutely singing at the time of my visit. The refined aromatic constellation delivers scents of apple, pear, a very complex base of Kimmeridgian limestone soil, spring flowers, beeswax and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with impressive mineral drive and grip, snappy acids and a long, complex finish that closes today with just a touch of its new oak still showing. This will be further absorbed with a bit of bottle age and the wine will be perfectly balanced by the time it reaches cruising altitude. 2028-2070. 94+.” John Gilman, viewfromthecellar.com, January 2022
”(from a full 1 ha parcel). Once again there is admirably discreet wood influence hovering in the background of the essence of pear, green fruit, seashore and saltwater brine aromas. There is outstanding intensity to the muscular, powerful and more concentrated big-bodied flavors that conclude in a super-sleek, clean and bone-dry finale that delivers sneaky good length as the finish terminates and then reemerges. Lovely and very Valmur in style. (91-94)/2028+” Burghound.com , October 2021

2020 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
From a single 2.9ha plot of vines that goes from the very bottom of the slope to close to the top of the vineyard. This remarkable holding is arguably the most representative Les Clos from the whole vineyard. Vines here are aged mostly from 45-75 years of age. The wine is aged about 1/3rd in barrel (about 10% new) and 2/3rds in stainless steel tanks.
”The 2020 les Clos from the Moreau family is an excellent wine in the making. The nose is deep, pure and nascently complex, delivering scents of pear, apple, flinty, chalky soil tones, beeswax, a nice touch of vanillin oak and a topnote of lime blossoms. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, poised and rock solid at the core, with superb mineral drive and focus, bright, snappy acids, laser-like focus and a very, very long, very precise finish. All this beautiful example of les Clos will need is time in the cellar to start hitting on all cylinders. 2030-2070. 95.” John Gilman, viewfromthecellar.com, January 2022
”(from a huge 2.9 ha parcel). Slightly more apparent wood (though still nicely subtle) is present on the overtly floral-suffused nose where notes of lemongrass, mineral reduction and iodine add breadth. There is impressive volume to the powerful and delineated yet reasonably refined larger-scaled flavors that where the texture is akin to sucking on tiny rocks. The balanced bone-dry finish is refreshingly crisp in no small part thanks to the citrus-tinged acidity. (92-94)/2030+” Burghound.com , October 2021

2020 Chablis Grand Cru Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos
A tiny 0.41 ha strip of vines located at the bottom of Grand Cru Les Clos.
”I used to think that the Clos des Hospices bottling was a bit more new oaky in personality than the regular les Clos here at Domaine Moreau, but I was ill-informed back in those days. This is simply a one hectare parcel of the grand cru that the family purchased from the Hospices in Chablis back in 1904 and have always bottled separately. It is raised in fifty percent casks each year, with about five percent of these new in any given vintage, and the rest raised in tank. The 2020 Clos des Hospices is a stellar wine in the making, offering up a pure and very deep bouquet of apple, pear, a touch of tart orange, a gorgeous base of limestone minerality, just a whisper of oyster shell, beeswax, vanillin oak and a nice floral touch in the upper register of white lilies. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, long and shows off lovely depth in the mid-palate, with lovely soil signature and grip, zesty acids and a very long, focused and perfectly balanced finish. Fine, fine wine. 2030-2080. 96.” John Gilman, viewfromthecellar.com, January 2022
”(from a .41 ha parcel located at the bottom of the hill in Les Clos). Once again the nose reflects just enough wood to be worth pointing out though it easily allows the slightly riper if otherwise similar aromas to shine. There is also excellent intensity to the dense, powerful and punchy broad-shouldered and sappy flavors that display outstanding length on the balanced and slightly more persistent finale. The regular cuvée is a bit racier and this is a bit weightier and more powerful, so these two wines offer, in essence, a qualitative choice. (92-94)/2030+” Burghound.com , October 2021