wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Vignoble Angst
Vignerons are unfortunately full of angst each year about their vignobles (the places where those noble grapes are grown!), particularly in Chablis with its annual bouts with the two G-forces of gelee (frost) and grele (hail). Those double G-forces are effectively countered by double Angst, however, with the talented team of Antoine & Celine Angst producing beautifully balanced and expressive wines such as their Premier Crus from Fourchaume and Cote de Jouan, AOC Chablis, Petit Chablis, a very interesting Aligote from the limestone terroir of Chablis, and a Bourgogne Blanc each year.
They are a great team as well with their very complementary skills. Antoine studied agriculture and has a degree in winemaking and Celine has a degree in Oenology. Antoine is particularly proud of his meticulous vineyard management applied to their estate vineyards near Courgis (including the Cote de Jouan Premier Cru site), the Fourchaume Premier Cru site north of the Chablis Grand Cru vineyards, and in Maligny (but which are not vineyards to be maligned!). The precision and focus in their wines are from a combination of great winemaking skills and their equally meticulous winemaking facility which is tailor-made for small lot fermentation of their very precious Chablis region grapes.
The result is very fully flavored and food friendly Chablis and Bourgogne Blanc wines. Below the pictures are tasting notes along with food pairing ideas for their wines that I am importing.
A gnarled old Chardonnay vine - and you can see the broken limestone that gives Chablis its minerality
A view of the Angst's Cote de Jouan Premier Cru site
Small batch fermentation tanks for concentrated flavors
Celine et Antoine
The Wines
Petit Chablis 2024 (OF, NF)
This is an interesting Petit Chablis as 40 percent of the fruit is from younger vines in the Angst’s Chablis AOC vineyards. As such, the wine has a richness and minerality that distinguishes it from typical Petit Chablis wines. Aromas include citrus blossoms, white flowers, narcissus, white grapefruit, lime pith, and pineapple. Flavors include white grapefruit, pear, green apple, and white peaches. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a really long and refreshing medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include shrimp, crab, scallops, sole, turbot, seabass, clams, mussels, calamari, oysters, seafood pasta and salads, paella, veal and pork cutlets with both picante and creamy sauces, pork shoulder, chicken, grilled sausages, Asian pork, chicken, seafood, and noodle dishes, Asian and Indian appetizers, creamy yellow curries, Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, pork and chicken enchiladas, pork verde, tostadas, green salads, and mild to medium cheeses.
Chablis 2023 (OF, NF)
Aromas include white flowers, gardenia, jasmine, white peaches, honeydew melon, and golden delicious apples. Flavors include honeydew melon, white peaches, and golden delicious apples. There is a medium to full body, perfect balance and acidity, and a really long and refreshing full finish.
Food pairings would include sole, crab, shrimp, halibut, branzino, swordfish, clams, mussels, calamari, seafood pasta, risotto, and salads, seafood bisques, paella, veal, pork, chicken, dishes with creamy or rich sauces such as chicken cordon bleu, creamy pasta dishes, Asian and Mexican seafood, pork, and chicken dishes, creamy yellow curries, Indian appetizers, enchiladas, pork verde, and mild, medium, and rich cheeses.
Chablis “Chatillons” Vieilles Vignes 2022 (OF, NF)
This is a special cuvee made from selected fruit from their oldest vineyard parcels. Aromas include citrus blossoms, white grapefruit, Meyer lemon, pear, white peaches, and honeysuckle. Flavors include white peaches, pear, McIntosh apples, honeydew melon, and kiwi. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a refreshing and long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include sole, shrimp, scallops, halibut, branzino, sea bass, swordfish, clams, mussels, calamari, paella, seafood pasta, stews, and salads, veal, pork, chicken, white meat dishes with creamy sauces and “earthy” vegetables such as mushrooms, asparagus, potatoes, and fennel, grilled pork and chicken sausages, coq au vin, cassoulet, Asian pork, chicken, seafood, noodle, and vegetable dishes, creamy yellow curries, Tandoori dishes, Indian appetizers, Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, enchiladas, tostadas, tacos, green salads, and medium to creamy cheeses.
Chablis Cote de Jouan Premier Cru 2023 (OF, NF)
Aromas include honeydew melon, pineapple, white peaches, honeysuckle, and camellia along with some interesting salty and saline notes. Flavors include honeydew melon, white peaches, golden delicious apples, and ripe pears. There is a medium to full body, perfect balance and acidity, and a long medium to full and somewhat lush finish. Along with all of this wine’s expressiveness, however, is also a precise structure of refreshing minerality.
Food pairings would include halibut, shrimp, crab, scallops, lobster, swordfish, clams, mussel, calamari, seafood pasta and salads, paella, veal, pork, chicken, chicken cordon bleu, creamy pasta dishes and any dishes with rich and creamy sauces, Asian and Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, creamy yellow curries, Thai and Vietnamese food, enchiladas, tostadas, seafood tacos, green salads, and medium, rich, creamy, and blue cheeses. This wine is quite amusing, however, as it could be dinner all by itself!
Vignoble Angst Bourgogne Chitry Blanc 2023 (OF, NF)
Chitry is seven miles southwest of the village of Chablis and the appellation is directly adjoining the western border of the Chablis appellation near Courgis. Chitry also shares the same limestone soils as Chablis. Aromas include honeysuckle, jasmine, white grapefruit, and white peaches. Flavors include pear, white peaches, honeydew melon, and kiwi. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include crab, sole, shrimp, halibut, seabass, branzino, red snapper, swordfish, clams, mussels, calamari, octopus, seafood pasta and risotto, paella, veal, pork, barbecued pork ribs, chicken, pasta with oil and garlic or light sauces, Asian and Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, chile relleno, green salads, and mild to medium cheeses.
Vignoble Angst Bourgogne Aligote 2019 (OF, NF)
Aligote and Chardonnay share a common ancestor which is Gouais Blanc and Aligote is thought to be a natural crossing between Gouais Blanc and Pinot Noir. This is a very interesting and expressive example of Aligote, however, as it is grown in the limestone enriched vineyards of Chablis instead of Bourzeron which is southwest of the Cote de Beaune in Burgundy.
Aromas include yellow roses, Meyer Lemon, camellia, honeysuckle, and hints of pineapple, grapefruit, and other tropical fruits. Flavors include white peaches, green apple, Meyer lemon, and a hint of white grapefruit. There is medium body, perfect balance and acidity, and a full minerally finish.
Food pairings would include sole, shrimp, crab, scallops, halibut, swordfish, fish soups and pasta dishes, veal, pork, chicken, creamy pasta dishes, Asian pork, chicken, and vegetable dishes, Asian vegetable salads, Mexican pork and chicken dishes and dishes with creamy sauces, yellow curries, Thai and Vietnamese food, and medium and creamy cheeses.
