We have a limited amount of one of the favorites of the Louis Michel lineup, the Butteaux VV, which comes from 60+-year-old vines that are naturally low-yielding, giving the VV more concentration and complexity than the regular bottling of Louis Michel's Butteaux. The Butteaux VV is an excellent premier cru with the richness that the vineyard is known for, but so balanced with excellent depth and concentration from the old vines, showing some serious minerality. No oak here; this is pure vineyard-driven Chablis amplified by the gorgeous 2020 vintage to make one of the best renditions of this Cuvee ever from Louis Michel. It's another prime example of pricing not always equating to more quality, and this, too, trails some of the best examples of Butteaux of the vintage at a much lower cost. We have a limited amount of this late release from Louis Michel, and it is not one to miss!
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 93+ points! "The 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes will be bottled later than usual, as Michel was still waiting on the delivery of glass bottles when I visited—but extra time on the fine lees certainly won't do it any harm. Exhibiting aromas of pear, white flowers, freshly baked bread, confit citrus and iodine, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with terrific depth and tension. It's a close race between this and Michel's Vaulorent this year."
Jasper Morris 92-94 pts! "Back in the fleshier style so for once I may have a preference for the regular. But then I love it on the palate with just a little bit of fresh red fruit mixing in. This has been racked a second time and sulphured which may explain the nose. The finish is excellent and very well poised."
Burghound 90-93 points! "Gicqueau-Michel noted that this had been racked only 10 days before my visit and thus it's not surprising that the nose was largely dominated by reduction and sulfur nuances. More interesting are the sleek, intense and more concentrated if slightly less energetic flavors that flash a refreshing salinity on the very dry and balanced finale. This too possesses fine development potential."
2020 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes
2020 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes
We have a limited amount of one of the favorites of the Louis Michel lineup, the Butteaux VV, which comes from 60+-year-old vines that are naturally low-yielding, giving the VV more concentration and complexity than the regular bottling of Louis Michel's Butteaux. The Butteaux VV is an excellent premier cru with the richness that the vineyard is known for, but so balanced with excellent depth and concentration from the old vines, showing some serious minerality. No oak here; this is pure vineyard-driven Chablis amplified by the gorgeous 2020 vintage to make one of the best renditions of this Cuvee ever from Louis Michel. It's another prime example of pricing not always equating to more quality, and this, too, trails some of the best examples of Butteaux of the vintage at a much lower cost. We have a limited amount of this late release from Louis Michel, and it is not one to miss!
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 93+ points! "The 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes will be bottled later than usual, as Michel was still waiting on the delivery of glass bottles when I visited—but extra time on the fine lees certainly won't do it any harm. Exhibiting aromas of pear, white flowers, freshly baked bread, confit citrus and iodine, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with terrific depth and tension. It's a close race between this and Michel's Vaulorent this year."
Jasper Morris 92-94 pts! "Back in the fleshier style so for once I may have a preference for the regular. But then I love it on the palate with just a little bit of fresh red fruit mixing in. This has been racked a second time and sulphured which may explain the nose. The finish is excellent and very well poised."
Burghound 90-93 points! "Gicqueau-Michel noted that this had been racked only 10 days before my visit and thus it's not surprising that the nose was largely dominated by reduction and sulfur nuances. More interesting are the sleek, intense and more concentrated if slightly less energetic flavors that flash a refreshing salinity on the very dry and balanced finale. This too possesses fine development potential."
