Domaine Moreau-Naudet

France, Burgundy

We still miss the bright star that was Stéphane Moreau-Naudet, who died suddenly in September 2016, but there is no question that the domaine has proved to be in exceptionally capable hands under his widow Virginie, helped by Stéphane's team.

Stéphane, who was influenced by Vincent Dauvissat (who recommended him to us many years ago) was a consummate vigneron, working organically, hand-picking, aiming for optimum maturity while avoiding any botrytis influence. He was also a master-craftsman in the cellar, using barrel-élevage, but not in such a way that oakiness can readily be detected in the wines (all the barrels are steamed rather than charred and there is no new oak except for in the straight Chablis, and then only one barrel per 100hl in order to age it prior to using for the Premiers Crus). Virginie is proving to have what it takes to build on Stéphane's legacy, and the wines here, full of racy character, textural depth and complexity, are as fine as they have ever been.

The premature demise Stéphane Moreau in 2016 deprived Chablis of one of its most interesting producers, someone willing to push the boundaries in a somewhat conservative region. Harvesting ripe but clean fruit, cropped at modest yields, followed by extended maturation on the lees were the cornerstone of his approach, today deftly perpetuated under the direction of his widow Virginie. Textural but tangy, the wines do much to prove that ripe grapes and a faithful and differentiated expression of Chablis's diverse terroirs is possible. Despite challenging circumstances—Stéphane's departure coincided with a vintage that amounted to a mere quarter of a usual harvest—this is a domaine that continues to thrive and produces very fine wines. They're well worth seeking out. William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Aug 2018)


Lea & Sandeman is a merchant which chooses impeccably – Italy and Burgundy are among the stars in a brilliant world-spanning firmament, and of the latter Chablis from Domaine Moreau-Naudet sets a very high standard at sensible prices, even if the label design provokes heated debate... all the Moreau-Naudet crus are memorable. Liz Sagues, Hampstead & Highgate Express (Dec 2014)


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