letuffeau.com
(Link)
Domaine Servin
(Link)
…
“Very pure and quite sensual, this is going to be difficult to resist in its youth.” - Neal Martin, vinous.com
&
Laurent Tribut
…
“These are crisp, characterful, charming Chablis that seem to attain that sweet spot between wood and steel.” - Neal Martin, vinous.com
—
“The nation’s love affair with Chablis seems akin to its obsession with large, matte black utes that serve no purpose.
Imagine a bar.* Patrons sit down and click their heavily be-ringed fingers; then, via a cursory glance at the wine list, out comes a glass of Chablis. A glass sporting the same enticing beads of perspiration that my accountant gets on his brow when I produce a voluminous manilla bursting with ragged receipts and dog-biccie crumbs. Business owners have told me the struggle is not selling Chablis, it is getting enough of it.
Enough is enough. Australians should drink Muscadet, Nahe Riesling, or Albarino.
All of that being said, below are a few wines from close to Tonnerre that will appeal more to the aficionados of customised, Geelong-built Holdens than to the RAM ute brigade. Special? I suppose. Rare? Certainly.
Nick is my avowed Man-in-Chichee, the proverbial boots on the (Kimmeridgean) ground. Naturally, we always have a bottle Chablisienne when we drink together. The below usually feature, and certainly inspire excitement. Within the appellation boundaries these constitute something different.
Explore with gusto. Some, strictly limited.”
— David
*Say, for instance, some cookie cutter Carlton North bar …
—
~ please note : discounts are automatically applied at the digital check-out! ~
—
Domaine Servin
“I have probably derived more pleasure from bottles of Domaine Servin than any other Chablis producer. This is simply a quantifiable metric. I have bought across the range for years now and find myself regularly pulling the corks ... and left with a huge smile on my face. More vaunted bottles are nestled in the cellar, though when they emerge they usually elicit furrowed brows and reverent discussion. Domaine Servin yield little in quality yet the posses a charm, some old-fashioned touch in their make-up that transcends their old-school price-point - half that of qualitatively comparable producers.
If that is not enough, I should mention they age impeccably. I recently caught up with the winemaker Marc Cameron, an Australian transplanted to Chablis and its environs for now over 20 years. His insights were of course enlightening but what spoke most loudly were two older bottles: a 2005 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’ and a 1996 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Montee de Tonnerre’, the latter from my own stash. If anything, the 'MdT' was the finer of the two; fully mature without a trace of oxidation and yet not only very Chablisien, but very 'MdT' (ie: minerally, lean, elegant). Quite naturally I finished both bottles with a friend at Yum Cha (Shark Fin). I heartedly recommend you stock up and do the same, with youthful or mature bottles from this Domaine!”
— David
I
Domaine Servin Chablis ‘Vieilles Vignes Massale Selection’
(Shelf Price: $89.00)
Offer: $75.00
“Old vines planted in a single block immediately after the Second World War in the Pargues vineyard which, which lies on the southeast-facing ridge separating Montmains from Vosgros. The standout lieu-dit of regional Chablis. A Premier Cru in my books.
There is an immediate coolness on the nose: white flowers, lemon pith (the real white stuff), salt spray, white peaches, boiled lemon candy, crushed citrus leaf, and a tinge of fennel-like greenness. Aeration brings to fore toasted almond kernels, walnuts, hazelnuts, and even deez … Where was I!
The palate follows with fresh lime, talc, and an intense salty minerality — you can practically taste the Kimmeridgian bedrock, no doubt owing in part to the venerable vines. The palate presence is resolutely old-school, toeing the line between opulence and asperity, at once silken and chalky. Oak-influenced notes of orange rind and oatmeal emerge with time in the glass.
Simply delicious. This is most mature and complete Chablis at this level we have seen in some time.”
— Nick
“An admirably discreet application of wood easily allows the aromas of apple, sea breeze, petrol and citrus confit to be appreciated. The old vines are very much in evidence as there is fine density to the utterly delicious, succulent and palate soaking flavors that possess a highly seductive texture while displaying outstanding length on the bitter lemon and balanced finale. This will need to develop better depth but it’s clearly very promising and also warmly recommended.”
(89-92pts) — Allen Meadows, Burghound
Order here
(Link)
II
Domaine Servin 2023 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Butteaux’
(Shelf Price: $98.00)
Offer: $84.00
“The 2023 Chablis Les Butteaux 1er Cru, matured in 450-liter barrels, has a lovely bouquet with more panache than the Vaillons: orange pith and yellow plum, just a hint of praline in the background. The palate is well balanced with a slightly honeyed entry, though the acidity keeps it in check. Very pure and quite sensual, this is going to be difficult to resist in its youth.”
(90-92)pts — Neal Martin, Vinous
Order here
(Link)
III
Domaine Servin 2023 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’
(Shelf Price: $235.00)
Offer: $198.00
“The 2023 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru is raised in used barrels. The nose here is much more reticent than the Bougros, demanding coaxing from the glass. Given a few swirls, eventually, it offers quite attractive yellow fruit, beeswax and lanolin scents. The palate is well balanced with a more exotic white peach and apricot. This more-of-a-crowd-pleasing Les Clos doesn't possess the acidity of the previous vintage, but there is certainly weight and length. It will be one of the earlier-drinking Les Clos.”
(91-93)pts — Neal Martin, Vinous
Order here
(Link)
~ please note : the below wines are arriving in the second week of March ~
Laurent Tribut
“I have been visiting Domaine Laurent Tribut for a number of years now. It is just a short visit, since the portfolio is limited to just the villages and three Premier Crus from his seven hectares of vine. Yet the quality of his wines means I am always returning. As usual, Tribut matures the wine in pièces within his rather cramped barrel cellar and then finishes off the ageing in stainless steel vats for around six months. … These are crisp, characterful, charming Chablis that seem to attain that sweet spot between wood and steel, so that the former is always a subtle rather than a dominating influence on the wines. To quote Steve Tanzer himself, these are “vrai Chablis”.”
— Neal Martin, Vinous
IV
Domaine Laurent Tribut 2023 Chablis
(Shelf Price: $158.00)
Offer: $135.00
“The 2023 Chablis Village, raised for 6 months in barrel, has a pretty nose, light white peach and freshly sliced pear scents. The palate is light and straightforward, a relatively simple Chablis Village compared to previous vintages from Tribut, but elevated by a dash of ginger on the finish. Fine.”
(87-89)pts — Neal Martin, Vinous
V
Domaine Laurent Tribut 2023 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Beauroy’
(Shelf Price: $235.00)
Offer: $198.00
“The 2023 Chablis Beauroy 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with red apple, Conference pear and light crushed stone aromas. The palate is fresh and vibrant, certainly a level well above the Village in terms of complexity and raciness, again, with that spiciness coming through on the finish. Early-drinking but full of character.”
(90-92)pts — Neal Martin, Vinous
—
Le Tuffeau Lucky Dip
(Shelf Price: $775.00 - approx. $65/bottle)
Offer: $620.00 - approx. $52.00/bottle
We have 1 case of mixed wines; an ample selection of favourite whites, rose, orange, and reds. 20%-off. Includes Red & White Burgundy (incl. Gilbert Picq), Jura, Joshua Cooper, Bindi, etc. First in, best dressed!
—
The new Le Tuffeau
2026
This week, by the glass
Joshua Cooper 2024 Central Victoria Chardonnay ‘Dash Farms’
Mas Jullien 2023 Languedoc Rose
Sette 2021 Nizza
…
Please join us for a drink soon. Reservations preferred.
Bookings and after-6.00pm access: (03) 9419 3867
Tue. 11.00 am–6.00 pm
Wed.–Sat. 11.00 am–11.00 pm
—
If you would like any of the above, would like to come by for a private appointment, or just have some questions — please let us know.