Marcel Servin Chablis 1er Cru 'Montée de Tonnerre' 2023

Winemaking

Marcel Servin is a family-run estate in Chablis with a long tradition of crafting benchmark expressions of Chardonnay from the region's premier and grand cru vineyards. The house prioritizes minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the mineral character of Chablis's distinctive limestone terroir to express itself fully in the glass.

Tasting Notes

This premier cru opens with bright citrus and green apple aromas, layered with the distinctive flinty, oyster-shell minerality that defines great Chablis. The palate is crisp and beautifully focused, revealing white peach and lemon notes supported by the wine's vibrant acidity—this is Chardonnay stripped to its essence, all tension and clarity. The finish is long and mineral-driven, a lingering reminder of the ancient limestone bedrock beneath the vineyard, and the wine's structure suggests it will develop complexity over the next several years.

Producer

Marcel Servin operates as a small, quality-focused domaine in Chablis, owning vineyards across the appellation's most prestigious sites, including parcels in Montée de Tonnerre. The estate's commitment to traditional Chablis winemaking—using stainless steel and neutral oak to preserve the wine's natural mineral character—has earned it recognition as a reliable reference point for the region's classic style.

Terroir

Montée de Tonnerre is one of Chablis's most celebrated premier cru vineyards, situated on the right bank of the Serein River in northern Burgundy. The vineyard's south-facing slope is composed of Kimmeridgian limestone—the same mineral-rich soil that gives Chablis its distinctive flinty, oyster-shell character—and benefits from a cool continental climate that preserves acidity and prevents over-ripeness in the Chardonnay grape.

Food Pairings

Serve this wine alongside fresh oysters or crudités—the mineral precision and acidity are made for briny shellfish. It pairs beautifully with seared scallops in brown butter, where the wine's citrus notes echo the sweetness of the seafood. For a casual pairing, try it with a classic salade niçoise or simply with good bread and a wedge of creamy Époisses cheese.