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Domaine Denis Race

Chablis - New Shipment

Domaine Denis Race is a beautiful 18 hectare estate with vines up to 86 years old planted on typical Chablis limestone-rich soils. The cellar is situated a stone’s throw from the northern tip of Montmains, on the outskirts of the village of Chablis. The domaine is now run by Denis and Laurence's daughters: Claire Race, who has been working with the viticulture and vinification since 2005, and Marine, who has been responsible for administration since 2015. The experienced Race family make all levels of Chablis but own an enviable holding of Premier Cru sites, including 5 hectares of Montmains and a patch in Vaillons that has venerable 86yo vines. The vigorous and firm house style is characterised by an electric vibrancy, with luminous shimmering fruit. As the Race wines are not treated with any oak, they have an incredible purity allowing that inimitable minerally 'struck-rock' Chablis character to shine. This domaine is now well-known among our regular clients and has developed a loyal following, owing to the incredible value and quality these wines provide.
Cheers, Randall.

 "The lowest volume here since 2003. But the quality is super, we can find the real Chablis in the glass."
Marine Race on the 2021 vintage

"Wow – a super vintage. My father has never seen such an early to harvest – in August! We were really happy with the quality and the volume was okay too – we have both."
 Marine Race on the 2020 vintage

These wines are in stock and ready for immediate dispatch!

Denis Race 2021 Chablis
RRP: $60 | Offer: $39!
In a 6-Pack: $37!

2021 Chablis’ are adamantly old-school in their tension and texture, and in their inscrutable mineral depths. This "classical" vintage and the Race family's old-school, restrained winemaking style has produced an absolutely stunning example of AC Chablis. It has abundant freshness with youthful vibrancy, surprising fruit weight for an unwooded and 12.5% alc. chardonnay. It has a impressive purity, chalky but elegant texture with a “dancing” acidity that cries for summer seafood or delicious picnic fare and casual meals with friends.  The 2021 vintage is extremely low in quantity but outstanding in quality. There won't be much Chablis this vintage - and certainly very little at this price! Indeed, this is one of the best AC Chablis’ that sisters Marine and Clare have made in the last decade, and the “direct” and youthful vigour is accented with gentle nuances of honeysuckle, lemon pith and honey wax. Chablis of this calibre under $40 is as rare as hens' teeth nowadays - don't miss out! 

Denis Race 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu
RRP: $80 | Offer: $59
6-Pack Price: $55!

The Race family has 1 hectare of well-sited 25yo vines in Mont de Milieu. This is a pristine, elegant and deliciously textural example that has firm backbone and great depth - the nose is all the classic Chablisien sea spray, crushed rock, and lemon zest. The palate, though weighty with ripe white fruits such as pear, white peach, and and tart green apple, has a welcome degree of concentration and salty mineral backbone. The finish is cleanly austere and leaves you thirsty for another glass.

"A little more citrus and floral complexity. Extra tension. Vibrant, lovely energy. Again there’s nice texture and a mouth-watering yet powerful finish. Really wide – this is excellent!" - Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report

Denis Race 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
RRP: $80 | Offer: $69
6-Pack Price: $65!

The Vaillons typifies this lieu-dit's power and breadth with succulent and exotic tropical fruits on the nose with a fresh lift from a real 'broken flint'/reductive quality. The palate, more expansive than the other crus, has heaps of zesty green citrus, crushed lime leaves, and a slight tartness of rich yuzu all framed by real "Race-y" acidity and a hint of buttery/almond pit richness that makes this Chablis terribly moreish! From a plot of mostly 86yo vines!

"Fuller, brighter lemon-yellow fruit – that’s quite inviting. Wider, more clarity, deep too though – perhaps a faint reduction. Again nicely textured, that’s a lovely wine" - Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report

Denis Race 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains
RRP: $80 | Offer: $69
6-Pack Price: $65!

The Montmains 1er Cru is the heart of the Race family holdings (a third of their total!) and this wine is a blend of plots from the lieux-dits of  Butteaux, Foret and Montmains proper, with an average vine age of 33yo. From the cooler and classic sites, this is lean and pristine Chablis that, although drinking beautifully now with powerful acidity and intense minerality, will reward a few years in the cellar before entering a long drinking window. Cold, slightly under-ripe pear on the nose, white flowers, citrus aromatic extract such as lime oil, and that signature Race minerality all vie on the nose for your attention. The palate is very direct and linear with pear and grapefruit - but there is nice of zesty acidity to keep things in check, and the palate stretches on nicely.