Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre

For once, the reference behind this Climat name is clear: the old Roman road that climbs up the hill towards Tonnerre.

Slightly set back from the Grands Crus vineyards, Montée de Tonnerre seems to be challenging the Climat right across from it, Blanchot. Its moderate slopes, exposed to the west, welcome the sun in the afternoon. The grapes ripen easily, especially since they are protected from the East winds. The shallow soil is underlain with Kimmeridgian marly limestone, and reveals veins of blue clay, which gives the wines both minerality and energy.
Montée de Tonnerre is a flag-bearing Climat that covers approximately 42.5 hectares, including Chapelot, Côte de Bréchain and Pied d'Aloup.

Chablis 1er Cru Chapelot

Written evidence of this Climat goes all the way back to 1388. It was likely a home to some shacks.

On the right bank and in the far south of the flag-bearing Climat Montée de Tonnerre, Chapelot is the ideal sun-drenched terroir because of its southern and western exposure. When searching through the shallow soil covering the limestone marl, the more fortunate might come across an Exogyra virgula, the famous small fossilized oysters typical of Chablis soil. Happy fishing!

Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Bréchain

From the word "brèche" which means breach or hole. Many fissures run through the limestone rock.

Lying on the right bank of the Serein, Côte de Bréchain finds a natural place in the Chablis landscape. Although part of Montée de Tonnerre, its flag-bearing Climat, it distinguishes itself with very particular features: predominantly turned towards the west and exposed to fresh winds from the north rushing into the valley, it is overlooked by a forest bringing just the needed touch of freshness. The subsoil is similar to that of the Climat group to which it belongs, primarily Kimmeridgian marly limestones.

Chablis 1er Cru Pied d’Aloup

The origin of Climat names in Chablis can be quite confusing! Especially when one of the surveyors gets in a muddle back in the nineteenth century ...

Located on the right bank, Pied d'Aloup is one of the four Climats that make up the flag-bearing Climat Montée de Tonnerre. It has a number of common features with its neighbors Côte de Bréchain and Montée de Tonnerre: a western exposure to take full advantage of the afternoon sun, moderate to steep slopes, a position sheltered from the East winds and grapes that ripen easily. The soils are shallow and lie on the marly Kimmeridgian limestone that has made Chablis wines so famous.