Chablis is located at the northern tip of Burgundy, just below Champagne, and its cool (even cold) climate and Kimmeridgian limestone soils push Chardonnay to produce precise, seashell-minerally whites, often with a distinctive rain-on-warm-pavement aromatic note.
Gone are the days when Chablis was firmly out of fashion and its great wines could be had for a song. But it remains one of Burgundy’s top sources for distinctive whites, and while the wines aren’t inexpensive, they’re still less pricey than Côte d’Or wines of similar quality. Even basic village Chablis can be profound; head into the pricier premier and grand crus, and you’re reaching some of the world’s best whites. Here are seven great bottles to look for.
Related: French vs. American Chardonnay: A Wine Pro’s Guide to Picking the Perfect Bottle
2024 Domaine Vincent Dampt Chablis ($34)
Vincent Dampt grew up around winemakers — his father, Daniel Dampt, and grandfather Jean Defaix both own acclaimed Chablis estates — and he founded his own domaine in 2004. More than 20 years in, he’s at the top of his game, as this beautifully balanced, lightly stony wine shows.
2024 Clotilde Davenne Petit Chablis ($39)
The Petit Chablis appellation, on the outskirts of the overall Chablis region (and representing about 19% of the entire region’s production), produces lighter-bodied, lightly floral wines. This bottling adds a cool herbal note to those spring flower aromas and is refreshingly bright and zippy.
2023 Domaine de l’Enclos Chablis ($42)
Brothers Romain and Damien Bouchard founded this organically farmed domaine in 2016. While they remain somewhat under the radar, Chablis lovers have recognized their talents, which are fully on display in this savory, white peach– and citrus-accented white.
2024 Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis ($46)
Fèvre’s Champs Royaux cuvée is a reliable introduction to Chablis, its green apple and citrus flavors wrapping up with a classic hint of chalkiness. Fermentation and aging almost entirely in stainless steel keep it impressively crisp and linear.
2023 Domaine Gérard Duplessis Chablis ($65)
This five-generation-old family-owned producer is now run by Lilian Duplessis, who keeps to Chablis’ classical character: that signature scent of pavement after the rain, leading into creamy green apple flavors and a chalky, minerally finish.
2024 Domaine Billaud-Simon Tête d’Or Chablis ($72)
Winemaker Olivier Bailly uses the domaine’s best parcels in the Chablis appellation to craft this impressive white. It’s more complex than a typical village wine (you could easily mistake it for a premier cru), and its elegant balance of fruit and savory elements ends on a lingering, cool, herbal note.
2023 Albert Bichot Les Vaillons Domaine Long-Depaquit Premier Cru ($77)
Bichot is well known as a Burgundy négociant, but this rich, seashell-minerally premier cru comes from one of its domaine properties, founded in the 1700s and now holding almost 160 acres of vineyards.
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