# Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux (2016)

- **Producer:** Domaine Pattes Loup (Thomas Pico)
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Chardonnay
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €61
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lemon, apricot, pineapple, clementine, nut, wax, honey, spice, confit lemon

## About this wine

The Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux from Domaine Pattes Loup (Thomas Pico) is a 2016 vintage Chardonnay from the Chablis Premier Cru appellation in Burgundy, France. Thomas Pico, a proponent of organic and biodynamic viticulture, manages the estate with a philosophy of minimal intervention. The 2016 vintage was marked by severe weather events, leading to significantly reduced yields and making this wine a rare expression of a challenging year. The vineyard is situated on classic Kimmeridgian soils, contributing to the wine's characteristic minerality.

## Interesting facts

- Yields in 2016 were as low as 20% of a normal vintage.
- The wine is bottled 'Vin Non Filtre' (unfiltered).
- Pico achieved organic certification in 2009.
- Butteaux is a steep, cool Premier Cru vineyard site.

## Food pairing

The wine's high acidity cuts through rich sauces and complements the natural sweetness of shellfish. Its pronounced minerality and subtle nutty, waxy notes provide a complex counterpoint to richer seafood and poultry dishes, while its texture can stand up to creamy preparations.

## Wine making process

The Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux is produced using 100% Chardonnay. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts in a mix of concrete tanks and neutral toasted oak barrels, including demi-muids. The wine undergoes extended aging on its lees, with the 'Mise Tardive' bottling specifically highlighting a prolonged period of maturation. It is bottled without fining or filtration, reflecting Thomas Pico's commitment to minimal intervention and allowing the wine's natural character and terroir to be fully expressed.