2018 Now finished: CHABLIS, Grand Cru Vaudésir, Jean Paul Droin. Burgundy

Chablis is a cool, northern area. Despite commercial popularity the wines are not ‘easy’. Initially they can seem light and innocuous, with searing, razor-sharp acidity.
Vaudésir, however, is one of the south-facing Grand Cru vineyards and often produces the richest wines of the appellation. From this great estate, and in this warm vintage, that concentration is certainly evident.

100% Chardonnay; 60% vinified in steel; 40% in used oak barrels.

Benoit Droin has a shiny, modern winery but takes a very flexible approch to winemaking. Depending on the vineyard, he may or not use oak, or malolactic fermentation (sometimes induced to soften acidity). He has 25 hectares spread across 15 different appellations.

Approachable now, but improving steadily through to 2028.

Exceptionally ‘forward’ for such a young wine. This is already immensely impressive.