2017 Petit Chablis Les Plantes

As usual, I journeyed up to the small village of Préhy to visit Domaine Jean-Marc-Brocard where I met with Julien Brocard and winemaker Odile van der Moere. Brocard is a relatively large winery but certainly under Julien’s regimen, who incepted his biodynamic “Les 7 Lieux”-range alongside, the ideals are more artisanal. “In 2017 we tried to harvest just a little earlier rather than later. So we started on 1 September and picked over the following three weeks, starting in Fourchaume and finishing in Montée de Tonnerre. In the end we lost 30% due to frost. In 2017 we are very happy that the year extracted the fine mineralité of the soil. There is a depth to the mineralité in 2017 so that you can see each cru.” This is a good, solid producer whose wines have a propensity to age well. Amongst the 2017s I was deeply impressed by the Bougros although, I find the Blanchots just missing the substance. The Premier Crus are all worth seeking out, especially the Fourchaume and the Chablis “Les Vieilles Vignes de 1946” that offers an excellent value.