Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin : Chablis 1er cru "Mont de Milieu" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Chablis 1er Cru "Mont de Milieu" 2023 Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a beautiful white hue of great clarity.

Nose
The bouquet opens with aromas of ripe white and yellow-fleshed fruits, such as vine peach and pear, underscored by delicate notes of white flowers like mock orange. These are joined by touches of spiced citrus reminiscent of bergamot, fresh tarragon, along with a mineral and saline backbone evoking oyster shell.

Palate
Generous and delicious, the palate offers remarkable volume and a satiny texture. The balance is maintained by a lovely natural acidity, leading to a persistent finish marked by an iodised salinity typical of its terroir.

Food and wine pairing

In its youth, this wine pairs perfectly with raw oysters, crudités or delicate white fish such as sole. After a few years of ageing, it will beautifully complement richer dishes such as seafood in creamy sauce, fish with beurre blanc, or Asian dishes with sweet-and-sour flavours.

Service and storage

This Chablis 1er Cru "Mont de Milieu" 2023 reveals excellent ageing potential and can be enjoyed until around 2040.

Other characteristics

This dry white wine produced in France has an alcohol content of around 13%.

The sun-drenched, mineral expression of a Chablis wine

The estate

Officially founded in 1620, the Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin estate ranks among the oldest winegrowing names in Burgundy. Located in the heart of the village of Chablis, the estate now spans approximately twenty-six hectares. Representing the fourteenth generation, Benoît Droin is the current owner and cellar master. He carries on an ancestral know-how while applying a sustainable farming philosophy. Regular soil tillage and rigorous yield management illustrate the estate's commitment to producing authentic wines that reflect the purity of their terroirs.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the Mont de Milieu climat, recognised as the sunniest in the Chablis appellation. Facing south to south-east and sheltered from north winds, the vines, with an average age of fifty years, thrive on a homogeneous Kimmeridgian soil. This terroir is made up of calcareous clays and small white stones, enriched by the presence of marine fossils. The estate carries out regular ploughing to stimulate microbial life and opts for early harvesting to preserve the natural acidity of the grapes.

The vintage

2023 was marked by mild weather conditions that fostered a calm growing cycle. The absence of major climatic stress allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and lovely concentration, resulting in a generous vintage ahead of the adverse weather that affected the region the following year.

Winemaking and ageing

For this Chablis 1er Cru "Mont de Milieu" 2023, the harvested grapes undergo gentle pneumatic pressing followed by enzymatic settling. Fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts, split between stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels, which account for 25%. After systematic malolactic fermentation, the wines are aged separately for eight to ten months before being blended, lightly filtered and bottled.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.