Domaine Laroche : Chablis 1er cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2016

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2016 from Domaine Laroche

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a pale yellow to golden hue, bright and clear.

Nose

The bouquet initially appears discreet, requiring aeration to fully reveal its complexity. It gradually opens with citrus notes, notably lemon and lime, alongside white fruits such as white peach. With aeration, floral nuances of white flowers and honeysuckle emerge, while a lingering minerality reminiscent of flint and oyster shells defines the overall profile. Secondary touches of almond and hazelnut round out this refined, concentrated aromatic expression.

Palate

The attack is fresh and mineral, structured by vibrant acidity. The palate reveals a medium to full body for a Chablis Premier Cru, with concentrated flavors of pear, apple, and citrus, always underpinned by that hallmark minerality. The silky texture and saline finish linger for twenty to thirty seconds, showcasing fine complexity and remarkable aging potential. The balance between the fruit’s maturity and the vintage’s high acidity lends this wine exceptional elegance and tension.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Premier Cru pairs naturally with seafood, particularly oysters, clams, and scallops. It is also a perfect match for grilled shellfish or shellfish in a creamy sauce, as well as delicate fish such as simply prepared sole or turbot. Creamy poultry dishes with mushrooms make a harmonious pairing too, as do fresh goat cheeses or Burgundy washed-rind cheeses such as Époisses.

Serving and cellaring

The Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2016 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. Decanting for thirty to sixty minutes before serving allows the wine to open fully and express its complete aromatic complexity.

A Chablis Premier Cru true to the minerality of Burgundy’s Kimmeridgian terroir

The estate

Founded in 1850 by Jean-Victor Laroche, Domaine Laroche embodies over 170 years of winemaking history in Chablis. Based in the Obédiencerie, a 9th-century medieval monastery, the estate now farms 90 hectares of vineyards across Premier and Grand Cru sites. Since 2010, it has been owned by the AdVini group and has been led by Jean-Baptiste Mouton since 2023. The estate stands out for its environmental commitment—earning HVE 3 certification in 2016—and for its "Un Homme, Une Parcelle" philosophy, which gives each team member responsibility for specific plots. Internationally recognized, Domaine Laroche distributes its wines to ninety countries worldwide.

The vineyard

The climat Les Vaillons, whose name derives from the Latin "vallis" meaning valley, is one of the largest Premier Cru sites in Chablis, covering around 105 hectares. Located on the left bank of the Serein, it benefits from a south to south-east exposure conducive to optimal ripening. The clay-limestone soil sits on the famous Kimmeridgian substratum, a 150-million-year-old geological formation of limestone and clay enriched with tiny oyster fossils. This unique composition gives the wines their characteristic saline minerality. Domaine Laroche’s old vines on this climat develop deep root systems that draw out the terroir’s distinctive mineral signatures, bringing complexity and intensity to the wine.

The vintage

The 2016 vintage will be remembered as one of the most challenging in Chablis’ recent history. After an exceptionally mild winter—the warmest since 1900—a devastating frost struck on the night of April 26 to 27, destroying around 25% of the buds across the appellation and a quarter of Domaine Laroche’s vines. Hailstorms on May 13 and 27 compounded the damage, while the cold, damp spring weather encouraged the development of downy mildew. In total, Chablis lost around 50% of its expected crop. Fortunately, from the summer solstice onward, conditions reversed: a hot, sunny, dry summer enabled the surviving grapes to reach outstanding ripeness. The harvest, beginning around September 20, revealed fruit of remarkable concentration and purity, producing wines of great mineral intensity despite dramatically reduced yields.

Winemaking and aging

The Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2016 is vinified with a terroir-respectful approach that favors purity of expression. Fermentations are carried out in small temperature-controlled tanks, allowing precise management of temperatures. Aging takes place on the lees with regular bâtonnage to develop aromatic complexity and texture, while preserving the freshness and minerality characteristic of the climat. This low-intervention winemaking method, introduced under the technical direction of Grégory Viennois from 2011 onward, aims to faithfully express the Kimmeridgian terroir without masking its character with excessive oak.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay, the emblematic grape variety of Burgundy, which finds in Chablis one of its purest and most mineral expressions.