Definition: Moutonne (la) Chablis grand cru

La Moutonne in Chablis is a rather secretive grand cru, with no official documentation. So don't look for "La Moutonne" in the documents of the National Institute of Designations of Origin. According to case law and custom, La Moutonne is not a brand name but a cru, without being considered a lieu-dit, and therefore without an officially recognised AOC. In conclusion, even without legal existence, La Moutonne is nevertheless considered the eighth grand cru of Chablis. A draft decree dated 9 November 1950 was drafted, but it has still not been signed! The history of this lieu-dit has not been smooth sailing. Owned by the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny under the Ancien Régime, it was sold in 1791! In a twist of fate, it was acquired by a monk who had left the order: Simon Depaquit, former procurator of the Abbey. A fine example of opportunism. He and his descendants brought this terroir to life with some success. La Moutonne even became a particularly sought-after name. So much so that Louis Long-Depaquit and the vineyard's wine syndicate signed an agreement in 1951 to put an end to the misuse of this name. He recognised that La Moutonne was indeed a registered plot of land covering an area of 2.35 hectares, most of which was located in the locality of Les Vaudésirs, covering 2 ha 24 a 18 ca, and 11 a 02 ca of the Les Preuses grand cru. La Moutonne stands like an ancient theatre.

The terroir faces south-east and is protected from the wind. It can become extremely hot in summer. The soil composition is dominated by Kimmeridgian limestone (composed of fossilised oysters), which is characteristic of the Chablis region. Due to its warm location, the terroir produces grapes with a high degree of ripeness. The wines are smooth, with the minerality of Chablis present but well integrated. Despite this richness, it requires a few years of bottle ageing to fully reveal its potential.

La Moutonne is still a monopoly of Château Long-Depaquit, more than two centuries after its acquisition by Simon Depaquit. The difference today, however, is that the château and its vineyards are now run by the current owner, Albert Bichot in Beaune. In addition to this famous grand cru, the vineyard extends over more than 60 hectares in Chablis. Five other grands crus feature in the range: Vaudésirs, Les Preuses, Les Clos, Blanchot and Bougros. The estate does not hesitate to age some of these vintages in oak barrels. This practice is not widespread in Chablis and does not prevent the famous Chablis minerality from expressing itself. Further information is available on the website.