Domaine Bois d'Yver Rosemary George MW wrote in her Blog on Friday 29th January, 2010.. "The next surprise of the Millesime Bio Fair in Montpellier came from Chablis, and provided a shining example of the impact of organically grown grapes on wine quality. I have visited George Pico at Domaine du Bois d'Yver in Courgis a handful of times over the years, most recently in 2003, and have always found his wines to be sound and correct, but not necessarily terribly exciting. This time the transformation was palpable. Georges explained that he had converted to organic viticulture at the insistence of his son, Thomas. Basically Thomas had issued an ultimatum: if you want me to take over the family vineyards, you have got to go organic. The 2008s have real character, with wonderful minerality and depth of flavour. I was really impressed. The improvement in quality was quite dramatic. They now use indigenous yeast, and neither fine nor filter their wines. Georges commented that it was like going back to the wines that they used to make 30 years ago. First I tried 2008 Chablis. The colour was deeper than his previous wines. It had lovely texture, real mouth feel, with layers of flavour and the benchmark minerality and firm acidity that good Chablis should have. And the second wine was 2009 Montmains, one of the traditional premier crus just outside the village of Chablis. The nose was more discreet, with supple fruit on the palate, and a firm edge of acidity and good flinty minerality, what the French call pierre à fusil, which is one of the benchmark flavours of good Chablis. " The Montmains is due to arrive shortly. For links to the straight Chablis please click the link below. Bois d'Yver Chablis, 2008