Sebastien Christophe

Chablis often suffers from being discussed almost entirely through famous names and grand cru vineyards. Meanwhile, producers like Sébastien Christophe quietly continue making some of the most satisfying wines in the region.

Based in Chablis, Christophe works primarily with Chardonnay grown on the area’s famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Those soils are a huge part of what makes Chablis distinctive, giving the wines their trademark mineral tension and freshness.

The wines generally avoid excessive oak influence, allowing citrus, green apple, white flowers and saline notes to remain clearly visible. Even the richer premier cru bottlings tend to feel focused and precise rather than broad or buttery.

There is a straightforward honesty to good Chablis that makes it endlessly appealing. Fresh oysters, roast chicken and surprisingly large amounts of cheese all suddenly seem like sensible ideas.

Sébastien Christophe sits comfortably within that tradition. Clean, expressive Chardonnay that tastes exactly where it comes from.