Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin 's Chablis Grand Cru Hommage à Louis was born on a parcel of land in the heart of the Les Clos climat, on Chablis' most emblematic hillside. This cuvée pays tribute to Louis Droin, a founding figure of the modern Chablis vineyard: co-founder in 1908 of the Union des Vignerons de Chablis, then president of the Union des Propriétaires Vignerons from 1923, he initiated the marketing of the wine estate's wines in bottles. For INAO administrative reasons, this parcel can no longer be labelled "Les Clos". As the vines did not move overnight, a file is underway to restore its classification as Grand Cru Les Clos in the near future.
This parcel of almost 1.5 hectares is planted on Kimmeridgian soils combining clay-limestone strata and marine fossils, with a clear demarcation between stonier parts at the top of the hillside, deeper clay at the bottom, and a band of blue clay in the center. The vines are in their forties, and benefit from a West to South-West exposure. They are cultivated using a "lutte raisonnée" system with regular tillage. Winemaking begins with pneumatic pressing immediately after the harvest, which is strictly manual. This is followed by careful settling and natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts, partly in stainless steel vats and partly in barrels. Malolactic fermentation is completed before ageing for 8 to 10 months.
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : This Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Hommage à Louis from Domaine Jean Paul & Benoît Droin is the undisputed lord of Chablis wines. The wine's natural power and straightforward minerality make it an example of long ageing, ready to stand the test of several decades with majesty. For the time being, you'll have to wait a few years for the cuvée to fully reveal its point of balance between substance and minerality, but this Burgundy monument will amply reward your patience!
The nose is astonishingly powerful, with aromas of juicy white fruit and ripe citrus fruit, in which the solar character of the vintage is apparent. A slight reduction with iodized accents reminiscent of oyster shell, and mineral scents of flint and gunflint recall the Kimmeridgian anchoring typical of Chablis wines, while a touch of sweet spices tending towards candied ginger and finely integrated oak add a further layer of complexity.
The palate develops ample volume, carried by powerful, structuring minerality. The unctuous texture is tightened by chiseled acidity. The ripe flavors of white fruit, delicate spices and yellow lemon are marked by a diffuse freshness that runs through the entire tasting experience. The mineral framework reveals its powerful potential on a salivating finish of flint and iodine. A few more years and it'll be the apotheosis!
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