Pattes Loup Vent d'Ange Chablis

Domaine Pattes Loup is one of the most exciting estates to emerge from Chablis in recent years. Thomas Pico founded the domaine in 2005 in Courgis, just outside Chablis, under the guidance of his friends Alice and Olivier de Moor, longtime champions of organic farming in the region. Starting with just 2.4 hectares of family vines that had historically produced pretty unremarkable wines, Pico went in a completely different direction, lowering yields, farming organically, and pushing for real character and site expression in a region where that’s not always easy.

His Vent d’Ange bottling may be his “entry level” wine, but it seriously drinks like a top-flight Premier Cru. Made from 60+ year-old vines, fermented with native yeasts in concrete egg and stainless steel, and aged extensively on the lees, this is Chablis with depth and personality.

The 2022 is just humming with energy. It pours a beautiful golden color, no doubt due to the extended elevage, and offers up classic Chablis aromas of chalk, oyster shells, and salty minerality. That incredible nose leads into a palate that is broader and finer-etched than most "entry-level" Chablis'. There's great texture to the flavors of Meyer lemon, green apple, pear, citrus zest, and mineral, but it still snaps, crackles, and pops with vibrant acidity. Truly world-class stuff!