Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2022

Bessin-Tremblay Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2022 is a top-quality white from the prestigious Chablis region of Burgundy, France. Made entirely from Chardonnay, this Grand Cru reflects the mastery of Domaine Bessin-Tremblay, run by Romain and Antoine Bessin, whose farming focuses on the pure expression of terroir.

The Wine Advocate
RP 96

Reviewed by: Kristaps Karklins

Built on careful viticulture, Bessin-Tremblay's 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur again stands as a benchmark for this historic vineyard. In the glass it shows an extraordinarily complex bouquet of grapefruit zest, fennel and beeswax, intertwined with fresh orchard fruit. Full-bodied, deep and layered, supported by vibrant acidity and a tense mineral personality, it ends with a persistent, markedly saline finish. It keeps all the tension and typical Chablis character, while remarkably embracing the generosity of the 2022 vintage. Although many producers worry about the warming climate, the Bessins have again made an excellent set of wines and, within their range, it's hard to find a finer expression than this Valmur.

Jean-Claude Bessin has officially retired, handing the reins to his sons, Romain and Antoine. Romain now looks after the vineyards, while Antoine runs the cellar. What was Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin has been renamed Domaine Bessin-Tremblay, Tremblay being the surname of Romain's mother, the source of many of the domaine's vines. The name may have changed, but the quality of this 12.3-hectare domaine in La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne remains just as impressive.

As the Bessins themselves explain, they love the acidity and tension typical of Chablis, as long as they come with substance and volume. This philosophy translates perfectly into wines of great precision, concentration, texture and definition. Production starts with hand harvesting, followed by fermentation and ageing in a combination of used oak barrels (about 20–25% for the Premiers Crus and a third for Fourchaume La Pièce Au Comte and Grand Cru Valmur) and stainless steel vats. The wines stay on lees for up to 18 months, around 14 months for the Village wines.

Viticulture and winemaking here fully meet organic certification requirements, and have for several years, except for a single product the Bessins use to prevent tartrate precipitation. Since 2022, all wines have been bottled under Diam Origine closures.

This estate truly deserves more recognition, as it ranks among the four or five best domaines in Chablis. In good years it makes seven wines; in harder years the range shrinks to just four cuvées. All are highly recommended. These wines have everything you look for in great Chablis: purity, tension, minerality, concentration, texture and an extraordinary capacity to age.

Published: 6 March 2025