2019 J. Moreau et Fils Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 750 ml

For anyone who loves Chardonnay in all its citrusy, lively, and elegant glory, the 2019 J. Moreau Chablis Premier Cru Montmains is as good as it gets. Grown on a storied climat in a vintage rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast—and made by one of the oldest and most revered names in Chablis—it delivers the pleasure, provenance, and pedigree of Burgundy’s best. 

Sitting just southwest of the town of Chablis, the Montmains Premier Cru is colder than the other climats in the appellation, largely due to the chilly mountain winds that buffet the vines. However, it enjoys abundant early-morning sunlight, allowing the grapes to achieve enough ripeness to balance their cool-climate-induced acidity. The cool climate also has another benefit: a later harvest, which affords time for the grapes to develop full phenolic ripeness as well.

J. Moreau & Fils was founded in 1814 as a wine-merchant trading firm by cooper Jean-Joseph Moreau, who had married the daughter of a local wine producer in Chablis. Over time, the domaine acquired several Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, establishing itself as one of the most important producers in the region. The Moreau family’s success in Chablis is written in their longevity, in the proliferation of quality wines bearing their name, and in the dozens of top scores the domaine’s wines have received in the past decade. 

Crisp, floral and luminous, the 2019 Moreau Montmains pairs perfectly with a smooth bowl of vichyssoise, a plate of warm gougères, or a simple seafood dish like grilled fish with butter and parsley.