Calvet Chablis

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10 February 2026

From the northern reaches of Burgundy near Auxerre in France, this wine is produced by Calvet, a well-known French wine house with over two centuries of winemaking heritage, now part of the Les Grands Chais de France group.

Made entirely from Chardonnay, the sole grape permitted under the Chablis AOC, this is a 2023 vintage that has spent 8 to 10 months ageing on its lees in stainless steel vats, with regular stirring to build texture and complexity. It sits at 12.5% ABV.

In the glass, it has a pale lemon colour. It benefits from being given a lot of time to warm, around thirty minutes, which really allows the character to open up. On the nose, there’s fresh green apple, bright lemon and a subtle flinty edge. As it happened, I had just cut fresh lemons to hand and the resemblance was striking. Taste-wise, it’s dry and crisp, led by citrus and green apple flavours with a clear mineral backbone. It comes across soft and rounded, rather than sharp. I found it an excellent match with fish.

Usually priced at £21 from Ocado and Tesco, though as I write this, it’s on offer for £16.50 at Ocado, which makes it a very attractive purchase.

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