Drouhin Vaudon : Chablis 1er cru "Montmains" 2021

Tasting notes and serving tips for the Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru "Montmains" 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a clear straw-yellow hue, highlighted by distinctive green reflections.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely mineral complexity, accompanied by citrus and white-flower aromas. Herbal notes evoking asparagus or artichoke mingle with subtle maritime nuances.

Palate

On the palate, this wine displays a fine balance between texture and mineral sensations. The aromatic profile offers citrus notes, herbal touches reminiscent of asparagus or artichoke, as well as maritime nuances that extend the expression found on the nose.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis Premier Cru "Montmains" 2021 pairs perfectly with seafood, delicate fish, and shellfish. It also goes very well with poultry in a creamy mushroom sauce or a platter of aged goat cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This Chablis Premier Cru "Montmains" 2021 can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2031. It is recommended to serve it between 10 and 12°C to fully appreciate its qualities.

The liveliness and precision of a Chablis Premier Cru

The estate

Drouhin Vaudon is the Chablis estate of Maison Joseph Drouhin, founded in 1880 in Beaune. In 1968, Robert Drouhin acquired vineyards in the Chablis area, which was then largely abandoned. Since 2008, all of the family’s Chablis wines have borne the name Drouhin Vaudon, in reference to the Moulin de Vaudon, an 18th-century mill located at the heart of the vineyard. Now run by the fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as President and Véronique Drouhin-Boss as the winemaker, the estate farms around 38 hectares according to organic principles since 1990 and biodynamic principles since 1999. The estate stands out for its pioneering commitment to sustainable winegrowing practices in Burgundy.

The vineyard

The Montmains vineyard is the northernmost plot of the Drouhin Vaudon estate in Chablis. It covers 1.78 hectares and benefits from a southeast exposure with slopes of around 20%. The vines, 25 to 50 years old, are planted on the left bank of the Serein River. The soil is made up of Kimmeridgian limestone, rich in millions of marine fossils, primarily fossilized oyster shells embedded in a whitish limestone matrix. This unique geological formation, dating back to the Upper Jurassic, gives the wine its distinctive minerality and signature saline notes.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved particularly challenging in Burgundy. A mild winter triggered early budbreak, leaving the vines vulnerable to devastating frosts that hit the region between early April and mid-May. The humid summer then increased downy mildew pressure, requiring constant vigilance. Despite these adverse weather conditions, historically low yields made it possible to harvest grapes of remarkable quality. Meticulous sorting at harvest and excellent technical mastery ensured that only healthy, perfectly ripe fruit entered the cellar.

Winemaking and aging

The Chablis Premier Cru "Montmains" 2021 is harvested by hand, with rigorous berry sorting. The grapes are pressed slowly in pneumatic presses, with separation of the press fractions. After light settling, fermentation takes place entirely in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks with native yeasts. Aging is carried out exclusively in stainless-steel tanks for 7 to 10 months, preserving aromatic freshness, vibrant acidity, and the terroir’s mineral expression. The wine remains on fine lees during this period to develop complexity and texture.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay