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Chablis - a part of Burgundy?

Many wine writers and wine merchants classify Chablis as a part of Burgundy. I just received the latest Parkers wine guide and he does it as well. All of them are correct if you base your classification on the grape used both places, namely the Chardonnay, but it is all just nonsense really because Chablis is not Burgundy.

First of all Chablis is 100 km from the centre of Burgundy, Beaune. Burgundy belongs to Rhone river while Chablis (as Champagne) belongs to the Seine river. Two rivers that runs in opposite directions. In addition look at the soil: Chablis is Upper Jurassic limestone rich with fossils and the Kimmerdige clay which is present in Sancerre and Champagne and not in Burgundy.

This is why Chablis is more minerally, steely, flinty and also sour as compared to the Chardonnay from Burgundy. It is very surprising that the french, so focused on terroir, also make the same error.

Although the appelation system is correct as Chablis and Burgundy are two different AOCs.






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