Chablis, Burgundy
Domaine d’Elise was created in the early seventies on the uppermost slopes of the hillside situated just above Chablis Premier Cru “Côte de Léchet”.
It was taken over in 1983 by Frédéric Prain, who exploits it with a team of four workers. The originality of this site is strikingly unique : all the equipment is to be found in the heart of the vineyard itself. It has become a kind of Château Bordelais in Burgundy !
The 100% Chardonnay vineyard is 13,5 hectares (half Chablis, half Petit-Chablis and a very little Premier Cru). It is composed of one section facing South, overlooking Chablis village. The soil’s chalk and clay characteristics, along with the fact that it is very stony, obviously limit the potential production of the wines.
The density of plantation of the most recent part of the vineyard is higher than before : 8000 plants per hectare instead of 5500. The pruning is different : less buds per plant to reach a better quality.
Cultural practices are both traditional and bio. Frederic chooses what he thinks to be the best for the vineyard. They managed to get rid of chemical herbicides which means tilling everywhere and they don’t use any insecticides or chemical fertiliser.
Harvest time, twenty years ago was purposefully delayed, thus obtaining an advanced maturity of the grapes. The global warming made them change that practice : Choose the best moment to harvest quite quickly at the very best moment which includes a good combination of acidity, freshness and maturity.
Vinification remains traditional but is attended to with much care. From the beginning there is a refined selection of the pressed juices ; then the deposit is carefully removed, the fermentation at 20° is attentively thermoregulated, the malolactic fermentation is controlled ; the wine then rests on fine lees for 9 months in stainless steel tanks before being very slightly filtered and then bottled in July.
The quantity produced is never huge (50 hl/ha). The acidity level is reasonable, the wines can be drunk quite quickly but also later.