Domaine Laroche : Chablis 1er cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru "Les Vaillons" 2023

Tasting

Appearance
The appearance shows a luminous golden hue.

Nose
The bouquet is rich and complex, unveiling a sunny profile marked by notes of saffron and spices, accompanied by nuances of citrus and white flowers.

Palate
On the palate, the wine expresses a beautiful richness balanced by characteristic freshness and tension. The finish extends with elegance, leaving an impression of purity and minerality.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Premier Cru pairs perfectly with pan-seared scallops, veal blanquette with cream, or aged cheeses.

Service and cellaring

To fully appreciate this Chablis Premier Cru "Les Vaillons" 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but has cellaring potential until around 2033.

A sunny and tense Chablis Premier Cru, a pure expression of Chardonnay

The estate

Founded in 1850, Domaine Laroche has established itself as an essential reference in Chablis, Burgundy. Owned by the AdVini group, the estate spans 90 hectares in the Chablis region and 40 hectares at Mas La Chevalière in Languedoc. Under the presidency of Antoine Leccia and the general management of Jean-Baptiste Mouton since 2023, with Grégory Viennois as technical director, the estate perpetuates family expertise dating back to 1780. Certified High Environmental Value, it practices agrobiology and favors manual harvesting.

The vineyard

The Chablis Premier Cru "Les Vaillons" comes from an early-ripening climate benefiting from south and east exposure. The old vines are rooted in stony Kimmeridgian limestone soil, covered with natural grass cover. This open, wind-exposed site offers a particularly healthy microclimate, favoring the expression of a Chablis of great purity.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage in Burgundy is characterized by its generosity and high quality, despite significant climatic and sanitary pressures from late winter to spring. The heat at the end of August reversed the trend, leading to rapid ripening requiring precision in choosing harvest dates. Harvesting began on September 7th with the Premier Cru Côte de Léchet, followed by the other Premiers and Grands Crus, ending on September 21st with the Chablis. From the first juices, the wines revealed a rich and balanced aromatic profile. Fermentations took place optimally, followed by extended aging on lees. The global potential proves comparable to that of the 2020 vintage, with yields returning to satisfactory historical averages.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest for the Chablis Premier Cru "Les Vaillons" 2023 is carried out manually, followed by sorting of the grapes at the winery entrance. Gentle pneumatic pressing at low pressure allows for the separation of different juice fractions, with only the best press fractions (heart of the press) being selected. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place 90% in French oak barrels in the historic cellars of the Obédiencerie in Chablis, and partially in stainless steel vats on fine lees. The barrels used are 1 to 7 years old, with varied capacities ranging from 228 to 600 liters. This approach aims to exploit the structuring properties of wood while minimizing woody aromas, in order to preserve the pure expression of Chardonnay. Aging continues for up to 12 months between fermentation and bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.