Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin | Burgundy

The Chablis 1er cru Vaillons from the Jean Paul and Benoit Droin estate is one of the many Chablis premier cru that the wine estate owns. Its main distinctive feature is thatthe Chardonnays come from 5 different climats: Epinottes, Roncières, Séchet, Chatains and Beugnons. These 5 climats all have the same geological particularity: they are all located on deep Kimmeridgian limestone with heavy clay on the surface. What differentiates them from one another is exposure and the proportion of clay on the surface, but nothing else. It is this kind of terroir unity that makes this Premier Cru Vaillons so complex.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Chablis 1er cru Vaillons is a wine I'm particularly fond of. It's one of the appellation's classics. It's an indestructible Chablis that reveals floral, saline and iodine notes when young. As it evolves, menthol notes appear, with an intensification of minerality. A superb Chablis premier cru, one of the best along with the famous Montée de Tonnerre. Winemaking is always mastered to perfection at the Jean-Paul and Benoit Droin wine estate, so it's no surprise that this is a great Chablis Premier Cru.

The nose opens with floral notes of honeysuckle, star anise and a hint of chamomile. The citrus notes are not to be outdone either, especially when young. Notes of mandarin orange and pink grapefruit.

The palate is razor-sharp from the outset, rich and luscious but with a backbone based on acidity. The mineral notes gradually reveal themselves, bringing harmony to the whole. The finish reveals a saline touch that lasts a long time on the palate.