As the heritage families of France’s Burgundy region continue to dominate the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuit, much of the youth movement has been centered in Beaujolais where Gamay wines have become the hipster beverage of choice.
Chablis, on the other hand, has also seen an influx of young innovation, beginning with Léa Schaller and Domaine Orion—one of the hottest new properties in the region. She took over her family farm in 2019 and learned to make the wine herself, rather than sell to the local co-op as previous generations did.
Named after the Metallica song of the same name, Domaine Orion represents a more rock and roll approach to Chablis. More grit, more elbow grease, and more concentration in the wines themselves. Schaller farms 5 acres in the southwest corner of the appellation, rich with Kimmeridgian limestone, layered with limestone and marl and full of oyster shell fossils.
The electricity of that terroir translates immediately into the wine itself, a pallet of flinty minerality with generous acidity and plenty of zip!
With historic Chablis labels now selling for $45+, Domaine Orion’s $27.99 price tag for a wine this delicious is a back-to-earth moment for Burgundy. We think it’s one of the best new white wines in the store right now, and we suggest keeping an eye on all of Léa Schaller’s projects moving forward!