The most south-westerly of all the Chablis Premiers Crus, Les Beauregards is one of its coolest due to its altitude and location at the end of Chablis’ Left Bank. It’s also one of the steepest (meaning the clay soils are shallow, and the limestone marl is never far from the surface) and one of the highest, rising to 300 metres. While this parcel has been in the family’s hands for decades, it was replanted in 2001 with mass-selection cuttings from Stéphane Moreau’s most treasured vines. Now that the new vines have reached 20 years, Virginie Moreau believes they deliver the intensity to join the Moreau-Naudet lineup.
High on the hill, Moreau farms almost one hectare of vines that catch only the sun's coolest rays, meaning Les Beauregards is one of the last vineyards to be harvested. All these factors play out in tension, cut and pithy citrus notes that course through the palate. Les Beauregards is noted for its floral side, though we also sensed a more savoury and spicy edge to the fruit and added intensity (perhaps due to the lower-than-average yields). Raised in stainless steel, this is a gorgeous, earthy Chablis redolent of hedgerow blossom, brown spices and all kinds of citrus with a long, mouthwatering—even grippy—finish. Magic!