Louis Moreau was born from the passion of a family settled in Chablis since 1814.
As early as the late 19th century, the love of this family for great wines led to the purchase of plots in Grands Crus and Premiers Crus. Today, as a proprietor of parcels in five of the Grands Crus, including a monopole, the domaine works many plots within the appellations of Petit Chablis, Chablis and Premiers Crus.
The most prestigious of its wines is the monopole Chablis Grand Cru Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos, acquired by the Moreau family in 1904.
Anne & Louis Moreau
Louis Moreau represents the 6th generation. After he graduated in oenology-viticulture at Fresno State University (California) and worked for several wineries in California, Louis came back to Chablis and succeeded his father. Based on his academic background and keen on passing a vineyard respectful of the environment to the future generations, Louis practices sustainable viticulture in the parcels. He always seeks for the most natural solution to preserve the quality of his vines and his grapes.
Located on the northern part of Bourgogne, 180 km away from Paris, going south east, Chablis vineyards cover 5600 hectares over 18 villages. Composed 100% of Chardonnay grape variety, Chablis terroir takes its unique typicity from a soil called ”Kimméridgien” made of layers of clay and limestone 240 million year-old and keeping in its layers ammonites and fossilized oysters (exogyra virgula) that give to Chablis terroir its unique character and to its wines minerality and purity. In the heart of this exceptional terroir vineyards, Domaine Louis Moreau parcels are spread over the 4 levels of the appellation, therefore offering a full range of Chablis wines that combine minerality, finesse, elegance and purity.
Climate Change
Climate change may have benefited Burgundy in terms of the consistent ripening of grapes, but it has presented the region with challenges as well.
In Chablis, Chardonnay has become “much more expressive,” says Anne Moreau, “There’s more roundness and fruitiness,” she says, with “much more grapefruit notes or tropical fruit, very ripe lime and apricot.” Despite the rounder, richer fruit profiles of recent vintages, Moreau remains confident that the wines “still have this precision and limestone note so characteristic of Chablis.”
In recent years, winegrowers have significantly altered their vineyard management, planting later-ripening grape clones and experimenting with new rootstocks resistant to heat and hydric stress. Canopy management techniques and harvesting times have shifted to moderate the accumulation of sugar ripeness and excessive alcohol.
In the below video, Anne -President of Communications at BIVB (Burgundy Wine Board), discusses how climate change is amplifying the impact of frost and drought, and what winegrowers are doing to combat it.
2023 Chablis
Good Availability
Chablis achieves its highly distinctive mineral character due to its cool northerly climate and its highly calcareous soil. Vivid with floral notes and hints of apple and pear. Bright acidity, with minerality and a palate balanced by roundness and finesse.
“A ripe version, boasting aromas and flavors of white flowers, peach and yellow plum, with a briny hint of seashore. Inviting and charming, with a lingering finish.”
90 points
Wine Spectator
2022 Magnums also available
2022 “Les 8”
Why “Les 8”?
Louis has always had a special attachment for this plot located on the heights of the village of Viviers, exposed South, and whose soil once contained the black gold Burgundy truffle. Since 2014, the 8 arpents represented by this plot are grown without any chemical inputs and are harvested by hand, like the Premiers Crus and Grands Crus.
2021 “Vau Ligneau”
This wine is a perfect example of a classic Chablis 1er Cru. Its exposure to a relatively cool morning sun ensures its elegance and enhances its minerality & richness drawn from the calcareous and clay subsoil. It has a rich yellow gold color with green hints and its nose reveals aromas of mint & pineapple. Its flavours are full & freshness dominates, with a long persistent finish.
2021 “Les Fourneaux”
This subtle and fine wine has a very aromatic bouquet. We can notice hints of white flowers, such as acacia and rose petals, along with a discreet vanilla aroma. It is very round in the mouth, with a hint of acidity that allows it to retain its minerality.
2021 “Vaillons”
Chablis Les Vaillons 1er Cru is one of the largest Chablis premier crus and sits in a side valley on the left bank of the Serein with classic Kimmeridgian clay soil. Les Vaillons has a southeastern exposure with full morning sun and cools in the evening helping to preserve freshness.
Generous, fleshy and lively. The soil composed of clay and calcareous marls ensures its minerality & vivacity. This is offset by a concentration of aromas that stem from the old vines which give to the wine its roundness & richness.
2022 Vintage available
Super-precise. Typical Vaillons floral notes, plump stone fruit on the palate but the acidity keeps everything in great balance. Winning combination of floral character, spice notes and energy.”
16.5/20
Jancis Robinson
2019 “Les Clos”
“Smokily reductive with a note of struck match. Rich, chewy, deep. Herby citrus fruit, rich and ripe but with excellent balancing acidity. Long, too.”
Jancis Robinson 17/20
2018 “Clos des Hospices”
Clos des Hospices dans les Clos is a family monopole, property of the Moreau family since 1904. In the past, this single parcel was enclosed within walls of dry stones and belonged to the monks of Chablis Hospices, hence its name of ‘Clos des Hospices’.
Grand Cru Clos des Hospices produces exceptional wines, displaying great generosity. Its nose is full and expressive, with a nice minerality confirmed by an elegant length in the finish.
17++/20 – Jancis Robinson