Family owner in Chablis since 1814, Domaine Louis Moreau is a rare estate to own 5 grands crus. Les Clos, Blanchot, Valmur, Vaudésir and the family monopole Clos des Hospices are the names most wine lovers from all over the world are dreaming of. In fact, the range of the wines from Domaine Louis Moreau is quite impressive: from Petit Chablis to the Chablis grands crus, each one has its own expression. Three questions to Louis Moreau, owner of Domaine Louis Moreau.
What is your view on the job of Winemaker?
After my studies of oenology-viticulture at Fresno State University (California) and some experiences in Californian
wine estates, I wanted to succeed my father with one single idea in mind: give a greater place to a vine conducted in full respect of the environment. I looked for the most natural solutions in order to protect the quality of my vines and grapes. Ignoring doubts, I made an important work in order to allow the plants to grow properly while fighting against external pressures. And now, all my grands crus are organically-farmed.
How did it impact directly your vineyard and your wines?The result of such a method is a total control of the quality and the yields, an essential part of my vision for the vineyard and for the wines. My experience abroad made me understand that, alone, a vigneron has more difficulties to make great achievements. So I decided to collaborate with some of the most important domains in Burgundy to improve the quality of the selected plants thanks to researches. I particularly focused my research on massal selections of the most robust vine plants in “Old Vines” of the domain (mainly in Premiers Crus and Grands Crus) in order to better express all the terroirs. All year long I use high quality methods then harvest at right maturity and transport grapes in small volumes to the winery where we use sorting tables. Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru are vinified in stainless steel tank to better express their minerality and their finesse. On the other hand, the natural power and the complexity of the Grands Crus allow a reasonable use of oak barrels for an harmonious ageing. Without artifices, with a delicate filtration, I leave my wines quietly to express themselves naturally. This is a global approach from the soil to the bottle and not a purely philosophical approach…
How would you define the Louis Moreau’s style?I like minerality, fineness, elegance and purity in a white wine so this is the style I look for in my wines. But each chablis has its own expression because the soil makes them different. My work is to help the wines to find their way and express the optimum potential which comes from the grapes. Sometimes it is difficult and needs time: the complexity of the Grands Crus and specifically Our family monopoly Clos des Hospices makes this work complicated but at the end the result is spectacular.
