Terroir Chichee
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh oysters, grilled sea bass, roasted chicken
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the village of Chichée, situated on the left bank of the Serein River, Patrick Piuze's 'Terroir de Chichée' is a masterful exploration of Chablis's unique geological heritage. The vineyards here are established on steep slopes rich in Kimmeridgian limestone, packed with fossilized prehistoric oyster shells (Exogyra virgula). This specific terroir imparts a distinct, saline minerality to the wine. Piuze's hands-on approach involves harvesting the grapes manually at optimal maturity and fermenting the juice using indigenous yeasts in neutral oak barrels. This traditional, non-interventionist method coaxes out a beautifully textured, rounder expression of Chardonnay that remains anchored by a vibrant, crystalline acidity and a deep, chalky finish.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 2008 by Montreal-born vigneron Patrick Piuze, this acclaimed boutique négociant is based in the heart of Chablis, Burgundy. After honing his craft alongside renowned regional icons like Jean-Marc Brocard and Jean-Marie Guffens, Piuze established his eponymous label to showcase the hyper-specific geological nuances of Chablis' famed Kimmeridgian soils. Partnering closely with local growers of older vines, he employs meticulous hand-harvesting, spontaneous wild-yeast fermentations, and aging in seasoned neutral oak to avoid masking varietal character. His portfolio is celebrated worldwide for its pure, razor-sharp, and terroir-driven Chardonnay expressions, ranging from distinctive village-level bottlings like Terroir de Courgis to prestigious Premier and Grand Crus like Les Preuses, alongside crisp sparkling wines crafted under his Val de Mer label.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay