Joseph Drouhin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2023
£57.97 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
13.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 8ºC and 10ºC
Winemaking
Fermented and aged for 10 months in stainless steel tanks.
Description
In the 1960s, when many Chablis vineyards had been left in the shadows, Robert Drouhin did the opposite of the prudent thing: he took a gamble on that cold, stony northern tip of Burgundy, convinced that the soil there spoke louder than any fashion. That decision - to revitalise a "forgotten" area and put it back on the big map - is still alive and well in Joseph Drouhin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons. Vaillons, very close to the village of Chablis and with generously exposed hillsides, is one of those Premier Cru that translate the "Chablis accent" clearly: Kimmeridgian limestone with marine fossils, an ancient ocean floor turned into living chalk. Here the variety is 100% Chardonnay, but don't expect tropical exuberance: it's the stone, the cold light and the salinity that rule.
Winemaking
At Joseph Drouhin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, the grapes are harvested by hand in aerated crates and brought quickly to the cellar to preserve freshness. The whole bunch is slowly pressed in a pneumatic press, in order to obtain a pure must, without green edges. After a gentle racking, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, and the wine continues its journey also in stainless steel for 8 to 10 months of ageing. There is no aromatic make-up or wood to dominate: the ageing is designed to refine the texture and preserve the precision of the Chablis terroir.
Taste
In Joseph Drouhin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, pale yellow with greenish glints. The nose starts with an attractive austerity: lemon zest, lime, crisp apple and a hint of white flower that appears as a reflection, not a perfume. With air, the minerality becomes more explicit: wet chalk, flint, and a marine, iodised breath, reminiscent of shell and salt breeze. The palate is straight and taut, with an acidity that cleanses and stretches the drink like a taut bow. There is volume, but it is a dry, chalky silk volume, and on the finish there is a long, saline persistence, with fruit barely hinted at - more echo than protagonist - and a sensation of purity that begs to be savoured: oysters, shellfish, white fish, citrus sauces, or simply another sip of Joseph Drouhin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £351.75Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £351.75 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £11.34 | £5.67 (-£5.67) |
| 7-12 | £15.39 | £7.69 (-£7.69) |
| 13-18 | £21.54 | £10.77 (-£10.77) |
| 19-24 | £29.46 | £14.73 (-£14.73) |
| 25-30 | £34.21 | £17.10 (-£17.10) |
| 31-36 | £38.25 | £19.13 (-£19.13) |
| 37-42 | £46.17 | £23.08 (-£23.08) |
| 43-48 | £50.56 | £25.28 (-£25.28) |
| 49-54 | £57.12 | £28.56 (-£28.56) |
| 55-60 | £61.38 | £30.69 (-£30.69) |
| VAT included | ||
Appellation Map
Joseph Drouhin Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 2023
£244.20
£232.02/ud (-5%)
Joseph Drouhin Meursault 1er Cru Perrières 2013
£238.61
£226.70/ud (-5%)
Joseph Drouhin
Meursault 1er Cru
Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin 2023
£105.46
£100.21/ud (-5%)
Joseph Drouhin
Gevrey Chambertin
Joseph Drouhin Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir 2023
£134.49
£127.79/ud (-5%)
Joseph Drouhin Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 2023
£134.70
£127.99/ud (-5%)
