Drouhin Vaudon : Chablis Grand cru "Les Clos" 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2023 from Drouhin Vaudon

Tasting

Colour
The glass reveals a luminous golden-yellow hue, enhanced by delicate green highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet stands out for its great nobility. It exudes scents of white flowers reminiscent of lily, mingled with indulgent notes of yellow fruit, honey and candied lemon, all underpinned by an elegant, iodine-tinged minerality.

Palate
Ample and full-bodied, the palate seduces with its depth and rich, unctuous texture. This generosity is perfectly balanced by a fine saline tension that carries the wine through to a finish of remarkable intensity and length.

Food and wine pairings

This great white wine pairs beautifully with oysters, noble shellfish such as roast lobster, or firm-fleshed fish served with a delicate sauce. It also goes very well with poultry in cream sauce, white meats and hard cooked cheeses such as an aged Comté or Beaufort.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate this Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2023, it is best served at around 14°C. It offers an optimal drinking window between 4 and 10 years of age, and will continue to develop favourably until at least 2038.

The refinement and balance of a great Chablis terroir

The estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune, Maison Joseph Drouhin is an iconic name in Burgundy. Now run by the fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as Chairman of the Executive Board, the family upholds a tradition of excellence. In the 1960s, under Robert Drouhin's leadership, the estate expanded northwards, giving rise to Drouhin Vaudon. This 38-hectare Chablis outpost stands out for its pioneering and wholehearted commitment to biodynamic farming, producing wines of great purity that faithfully reflect their terroirs.

The vineyard

Located within the prestigious Chablis appellation, the Les Clos climat enjoys an ideal south and south-west exposure. The vines thrive on typical Kimmeridgian soils, composed of limestone and marl rich in tiny marine fossils. The estate applies rigorous biodynamic principles, including ploughing by horse and strict yield control, with yields deliberately kept below the permitted limits to concentrate the substance and mineral expression of the grapes.

The vintage

2023 ranks as one of the hottest years in the region's recent history. Despite these high temperatures, the harvest yielded grapes at perfect ripeness. The weather conditions favoured the production of particularly aromatic, generous wines that manage to retain remarkable freshness without masking the identity of the terroir.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes for this Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos" 2023 are harvested by hand into small perforated crates. After very gentle pneumatic pressing of the whole bunches, fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, with a measured proportion of new wood, for 10 to 12 months to refine its structure while preserving its delicacy.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.