Pinson has documentation confirming the family was in Chablis in 1640. While it was much later when they started bottling under Pinson, the family would have been deeply involved in wine growing and winemaking. Louis Pinson was the pioneer of the family and, in 1880, bottled the first wines under the Pinson name. However, over 100 years later, Laurent and Christophe Pinson, grandsons of Louis, would take over after working with their grandfather and completing their winegrowing studies in Beaune. Laurent and Christophe helped expand the Domaine and, between 1982 and 2009, went from 4 to 12 hectares of vines, also building a new, more technologically advanced winery with more room and capability. These changes dramatically increased the quality of the wines, and with the introduction of the new generation, Charlene Pinson joined the family estate after completing her viticulture-enology in Beaune. The family has been making some incredibly classic and noteworthy Chablis using sustainable techniques without chemicals, and 2022 is a very fine example with the potential to be an exceptional bottle. The Mont de Milieu is one of their top premier crus. It is a vineyard with similar exposure to the Grand Cru sites, with limestone and red clay over the region's famous Kimmeridgian soil beneath. It's one of the warmest sites in Chablis; the soil's naturally low fertility helps limit the yields, producing very concentrated wines with excellent acidity and minerality.
2022 is going to be exceptional for Chablis and is highly regarded, with many producers happy with how the vintage turned out. The wines show both freshness and ample ripeness, alongside crisp attack and signature minerality. The year was warm and very dry, but yields were not excessive, and the acidity was high, leading to well-balanced wines. This was a recovery and contrast from the challenging 2021 season, making 2022 a year of extremely healthy grapes and a style that appeals to both classic and modern palates.
Decanter (Andy Howard MW) 94 points! "From 60-year-old southeast-facing vines, with 10% of the blend matured in new oak. This shows Mont de Milieu at its best. Floral notes combine with good ripeness of stone fruit on the palate, freshened up by lovely acidity. Plenty of mineral notes add extra complexity to the whole. A fine premier cru which has power but in a refined, elegant package."
Jasper Morris MW (Inside Burgundy) 92-95 Five Stars! "15% is vinified in new wood, then matured as the other 1ers crus. A little more yellow in the colour, and a slight touch of coconut on the nose. The wood can be detected on the palate too but it will certainly integrate. There is a fine full bodied classical Chablis lurking behind. A notably long succulent finish, then some classical minerality. Certainly, a fine acid balance. They make sure to pick here very early thus avoiding the over exotic character seen in some cellars. The 2022 is set to be a great success. Drink from 2028-2038. Tasted: June 2023."
Burghound 92-94 points! "As is often the case with Mont de Milieu, there is a trace of exoticism suffusing the white and yellow fruit aromas along with classic Chablis elements of oyster shell, iodine and algae, all of which is trimmed in noticeable wood influence. There is excellent size, weight, density and power to the succulent but muscular larger-bodied flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering excellent length on the overtly stony finish. This bone-dry and highly recommended effort is also going to require patience."
2022 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu
2022 Domaine Pinson Frères Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu
$44.99
$44.99
Pinson has documentation confirming the family was in Chablis in 1640. While it was much later when they started bottling under Pinson, the family would have been deeply involved in wine growing and winemaking. Louis Pinson was the pioneer of the family and, in 1880, bottled the first wines under the Pinson name. However, over 100 years later, Laurent and Christophe Pinson, grandsons of Louis, would take over after working with their grandfather and completing their winegrowing studies in Beaune. Laurent and Christophe helped expand the Domaine and, between 1982 and 2009, went from 4 to 12 hectares of vines, also building a new, more technologically advanced winery with more room and capability. These changes dramatically increased the quality of the wines, and with the introduction of the new generation, Charlene Pinson joined the family estate after completing her viticulture-enology in Beaune. The family has been making some incredibly classic and noteworthy Chablis using sustainable techniques without chemicals, and 2022 is a very fine example with the potential to be an exceptional bottle. The Mont de Milieu is one of their top premier crus. It is a vineyard with similar exposure to the Grand Cru sites, with limestone and red clay over the region's famous Kimmeridgian soil beneath. It's one of the warmest sites in Chablis; the soil's naturally low fertility helps limit the yields, producing very concentrated wines with excellent acidity and minerality.
2022 is going to be exceptional for Chablis and is highly regarded, with many producers happy with how the vintage turned out. The wines show both freshness and ample ripeness, alongside crisp attack and signature minerality. The year was warm and very dry, but yields were not excessive, and the acidity was high, leading to well-balanced wines. This was a recovery and contrast from the challenging 2021 season, making 2022 a year of extremely healthy grapes and a style that appeals to both classic and modern palates.
Decanter (Andy Howard MW) 94 points! "From 60-year-old southeast-facing vines, with 10% of the blend matured in new oak. This shows Mont de Milieu at its best. Floral notes combine with good ripeness of stone fruit on the palate, freshened up by lovely acidity. Plenty of mineral notes add extra complexity to the whole. A fine premier cru which has power but in a refined, elegant package."
Jasper Morris MW (Inside Burgundy) 92-95 Five Stars! "15% is vinified in new wood, then matured as the other 1ers crus. A little more yellow in the colour, and a slight touch of coconut on the nose. The wood can be detected on the palate too but it will certainly integrate. There is a fine full bodied classical Chablis lurking behind. A notably long succulent finish, then some classical minerality. Certainly, a fine acid balance. They make sure to pick here very early thus avoiding the over exotic character seen in some cellars. The 2022 is set to be a great success. Drink from 2028-2038. Tasted: June 2023."
Burghound 92-94 points! "As is often the case with Mont de Milieu, there is a trace of exoticism suffusing the white and yellow fruit aromas along with classic Chablis elements of oyster shell, iodine and algae, all of which is trimmed in noticeable wood influence. There is excellent size, weight, density and power to the succulent but muscular larger-bodied flavors that coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering excellent length on the overtly stony finish. This bone-dry and highly recommended effort is also going to require patience."
