2011 Chablis Reserve de l'Obedience
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Tasting notes
The flagship 2011 Chablis Les Blanchots Reserve de L'Obedience is a huge, powerful wine. In my view, it is neither more complex nor materially more interesting than the straight Blanchots. There is plenty of size, volume and breadth in the glass, but will the 2011 become more refined with time? That is the question. The 2011 was done mostly in demi-muids. In a warm, precocious vintage like 2011, vinfication and aging in oak yielded a burnished Chablis with oxidative (but not unpleasant) overtones, similar to those found in barrel-fermented Champagne. Blanchot is the domaine's largest holding (they own 6 parcels), hence the decision to make a selection from this particular site.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Exotic aromas of ripe peach and sexy oak spices. Very ripe, creamy stone fruit flavors are supported by a firm mineral-driven spine. Some obvious oak gives the mid-palate a slightly aggressive quality, but the tight, rocky finish promises a graceful evolution in bottle. Viennois and his team do a blind tasting of their Blanchots lots, looking for aromatic power, acidity and fat--or what he calls "the center of the triangle."
On the tropical spectrum of Chardonnay. Selected blind from the eight different parcels of Blanchots they make – you can see why it stands out. Very powerful fruit. (RH)
I tasted the 2011 Chablis Les Blanchots Reserve de l'Obedience, tasted from a combination of lots that represent an approximation of the final blend. Layers of expressive tropical fruit, spices and French oak are woven together beautifully in this voluminous, opulent offering. This is yet another intriguing 2011 from Laroche. The 2011 is aging in approximately 85% oak and 15% steel.