2023 Gilbert Picq Chablis AC 750ml

The 2023 Chablis Village was assembled for my visit by Didier Picq from 10 vats. It has an attractive if light bouquet with apple blossom and fresh pear aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little creaminess towards the finish. This will drink well for 4-6 years. 88 -90 points - Neal Martin, Vinous

Blend made up. Fresh pale yellow, immediate energy on the nose, this keeps growing in the glass, with good tension, even a little pleasing bitterness at the finish. Very promising. 87-90 Jasper Morris MW, Inside Brugundy

There is good Chablis typicity present in the form of iodine, seashore and petrol along with citrus zest top notes. The delicious, vibrant and precise middle weight flavors flash good minerality on the clean, dry and saline-inflected finish. This is very good for its level and worth considering. 89-91 points - Allen Meadows, Burghound

Allen meadows on the 2023 Vintage
Didier Picq, who with his brother manages this 14.3 ha domaine, noted that the 2023 growing season "was more difficult than 2022 but easier than 2021. There was some early season frost risk that didn't do much damage but the ensuing attack of mildew was no joke as it caused quite a bit of damage. Otherwise, it was fairly easy to manage and we ultimately chose to begin picking essentially spotless fruit on the 11th of September and continued through to the 24th. Yields were perfectly good but certainly not high as they ranged from 50 to 60 hl/ha. Potential alcohols were not especially high either at between 11.5 to 12.5% and those wines that came in at the lower levels of that range were lightly chaptalized. The acidities weren't high either, though they weren't low either as the post-malolactic pHs came in right at 3.35, which is perfectly okay if not what I would call ideal. Stylistically, I would describe them as basically classic and a blend of 2021 and 2022." Note that the house style is ultra-pure with no wood, and I can vouch from personal experience that the wines age extremely well. Lastly, I had the chance to review two now in-bottle wines from 2022, both of which are lovely.