At this point, the 2015 wine grape harvest is coming to an end. A few more picks this week and next will bring it to a close. This is a far departure from 2011, a protracted late harvest. In 2011, picking began the first week of October for most wineries, this year it ended the first week of this month. Moderate highs in the upper 70's and low 80's have enabled growers to see grapes maturing evenly up to picking. Quality seems to be high, despite the 100 degree days from late June to the end of July. After veraison, the begining of grapes turning color, the grapes developed plenty of bright fruits and aromatic phenols. All this leaves growers and winemakers smiling.

A Grand Cru Chablis Tasting

Last night the SOB's (Sons of Bacchus) assembled at the Seven Hills Winery for a tasting of Grand Cru Chablis which consist of the best vineyards in that region of northeast Burgundy. These vineyards, above the town of Chablis, are located on a southwest exposure and on sites with the heaviest concentration of calcium which gives Chablis a distinctive minerally taste. All but two of the wines tasted were of high quality. Here are what I found to be the most exceptional ones.

2010 Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru, Bougros - This was the top favorite of the group. It showed a medium gold color and a flinty nose of apples and citrus. It came on strong on the palate entry with sturdy acids and steely minerals and a bone dry finish. 19/20 points.

2010 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru, Bougros - La Chablisienne is the well-run cooperative of Chablis. This version showed a bright, fruity apple, pear and peach nose and chalky, steely classic flavors with a fine sense of balance and depth that kept on going through the finish. I preferrred it to the Fevre. 19+/20 points.

2012 Maison Dampt Chablis Grand Cru, Bougros - This negociant bottling offered a brilliant gold color and a floral apple and lemon nose with ripe, steely, saline flavors. The back showed a bit of restraint, coming on like a fine young Grand Cru. 19/20 points.

2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru, Les Blanchots - This showed a brilliant gold color and a distinctive nose of apples and peaches. The flavors started out soft, Meursault-like, then built up on the back with fine acidity and a steely dry finish. Interestingly, it was the only wine with a screwcap finish. This was the group favorite in its flight and my second choice. 19+/20 points.

2008 Jean & Sebastien Dauvissat Chablis Grand Cru, Les Preuses - This showed a brilliant color and aromas of apple, peach and citrus. Highly extracted, it showed deep, almost austere flavors with saline minerals and a bone dry finish. 19/20 points.

There was one ringer in the group, the 2011 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay. It was a fine wine in its own right (19/20 points), but stood out as being different from the others. Two wines, the 2006 William Fevre Les Preuses and 2007 Willaim Fevre Vaudesir were showing some oxidation.

Thanks to Casey McClellan and Erik McLaughlin for hosting this fine tasting.