Saint Martin, the patron saint of Chablis, was a Roman cavalry officer who became a humble monk and was elected Bishop of Tours. After his death in 397, his body was brought back to the Abbey of Marmoutier in Tours, where his relics (such as his cavalry cape, which he had torn in half for a beggar) were kept. In 877, as the Normans were invading the Touraine, monks took his relics to Chablis to avoid destruction. Saint Martin’s relics were kept for a decade in the Obédiencerie of the ninth-century monastery in the town of Chablis. The Saint Martin cuvée is the flagship wine of Domaine Laroche, a symbol of the Laroche values of sharing and conviviality. Apple blossom and fresh pear aromas, perhaps with a hint of peppermint in the background. The palate is well balanced with a crisp line of acidity. I appreciate the tension of this Chablis: taut and linear, quite saline in the mouth and this serves to prolong the finish. This is a well-crafted and very delicious Chablis.