🪨 Kimmeridgian marl
Ancient marl full of tiny oyster shells that lies beneath Chablis.
Kimmeridgian marl is an ancient marl with tiny oyster shells that lies under the vineyards of Chablis. Marl is a rock made of clay and lime. The name Kimmeridgian comes from the village of Kimmeridge in England, where this rock was first described.
The rock formed in the Jurassic period, when there was a warm sea in this place. The remains of sea animals settled on the bottom, including small oysters. Millions of years passed, the sea left, and the sea floor became soil. Shells are still found in the stones.
What does this have to do with wine? Limestone soil holds moisture well and gives the wine fresh acidity and a mineral edge. Chardonnay from Chablis is famous for exactly this: it is dry, fresh and strict. Many winemakers link its character to Kimmeridgian marl.
Marl is found in other places too, but under Chablis it became especially well known. It is an example of how soil shapes the taste of wine.
Links
Frequently asked questions
What is Kimmeridgian marl?
An ancient rock of clay and lime with small oyster shells, under the vineyards of Chablis.
Where does the name Kimmeridgian come from?
From the village of Kimmeridge in England, where the rock was first described.
How does marl affect wine?
Limestone soil helps the wine keep fresh acidity and a mineral edge, as in Chardonnay from Chablis.