Denis Race Chablis Pre-Arrival: Due November 2026

The Denis Race (Denee Wrasse if you want to sound French) are a revelation in typicity, pristinity AND heart-warming value. I tasted the 25's with Claire and Marine Race earlier this year and I was impressed how much these wines have improved and become more characterful over the last decade. The cellar is pristine and gave me the impression I could safely eat off the floor, and if I touched something and moved it slightly, it would be cleaned and put back in its place. The warm '25 vintage suited this style of wine, and the bounty of wonderful plots within and in-between Montmains and Vaillons (the AC is in-between these two great 1ers) gives this family some great grapes to make good use of. As you probably know, these are unoaked and "classic" in style. Cheers, Randall.

2025 AC Chablis

Offer: $45 | $43 in 6-Packs

If I tasted this wine blind I’m sure I would pick it as a Chablis. With the yields reduced by 50% the vines filled the berries with more concentration of flavour. It has more fleshiness than the 2023, but still has the Race signature of racy and vibrant freshness with the salty “sea spray” character. It has impressive purity, chalky but elegant texture with a “dancing” acidity.

Claire Race has done well here, with the “direct” and youthful vigour accented by gentle nuances of honeysuckle, lemon pith and beeswax. Cheers, Randall.

2024 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains

Offer: $59 | $56 in 6-Packs

This 1er cru is textbook Chablis, and has the track record of ageing well. The Montmains 1er Cru is the heart of the Race family holdings and this wine is a blend of three plots (all lieu dits within greater Montmains). Butteaux - gives the wine a broad-base delivering weight and structure and the Forets adds softness and richness; and Montmains proper - credited with the distinguished minerality and according to Jasper Morris MW, a roasted hazelnut nuance.

The vines have an average age of 33y. "Vinifying the grapes together from these different parcels produces a dry and deeply-flavoured wine with intense aromas and an ageing potential of 8 years" according to Race.

2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

Offer: $59 | $56 in 6-Packs

Vaillons and Montmains are both left bank SE-facing slopes close to each other and close to the Race cellar, S-W of the village. "Wines from Vaillons should be lovely, classic and elegant with both vivacity and power" according to Jasper Morris MW, and this wine is exactly that. "Typically the most incisive Chablis 1er Cru, this is a bone dry wine with the hallmarks of fine Chablis with its sea spray, rocky / mineral character," the Race family say. "This Vaillons is a smooth and full-bodied wine with very fruity and tender notes. Often a favourite in our tastings, it's impressionable length keeps you savouring this cuvee."

2022 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot

Offer: $189 | $179 in 6-Packs

Denis Race, as many of you know, makes pure and punchy, non-oaked wines of great value and energy. This is the first lot of 5 doz Grand Cru we have been able to get hold of, and of course it shows more density, energy, class, minerality and finer balance than the lovely 1er Crus that we have been importing for 4 years. This has struck rock, lemon, fennel, fresh herb and pear aromas, with a saline / marine breeze freshness. The palate is balanced, tensile, vibrant and almost shimmering. The finish is impressive. This offers great value for a grand cru, AND some age-ability for 5+ years, possibly a lot longer. Many of you have tasted and loved the 1er Crus, but this is a clear and impressive big step up.