La Chablisienne : Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2018 from La Chablisienne

Tasting

Appearance
This wine reveals a pale golden yellow hue, clear and bright, enhanced by delicate silvery highlights.

Nose
The nose initially shows finesse and elegance, with a characteristic restraint. After a few moments of aeration, it gradually opens onto delicate floral notes of lily and lilac, accompanied by fresh citrus aromas reminiscent of lemon and zest. Touches of honeysuckle add an extra floral dimension, while nuances of greengage plum and green apple bring freshness. A subtle vanilla note appears, followed by a pronounced minerality marked by flint and chalky accents.

Palate
On the palate, the wine offers a full, rich texture without heaviness, with a lively, energetic attack. The structure is medium-bodied, supported by a natural acidity that brings tension and definition. The mid-palate reveals a fine, juicy fruit expression, while the finish stands out for its sustained minerality, with notes of lemon and citrus zest perceived retronasally. Overall, it shows harmonious balance and remarkable aromatic length.

Food and wine pairings
This Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2018 is an ideal match for a seafood platter, delicate fish, poultry in a cream and mushroom sauce, or aged goat cheeses.

A lively, well-structured Chablis Premier Cru

The estate
Founded in 1923 by Abbé Balitrand and 180 winegrowing families in the face of the economic hardships of the interwar period, La Chablisienne has established itself as the leading cooperative in Chablis. Representing around 25% of the appellation’s total production, it now brings together more than 250 winegrowing families who cultivate approximately 1,250 hectares across the four appellation levels. Led by Damien Leclerc and overseen oenologically by Estelle Roy since 2023— the first woman from Chablis to be named Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge in 2024—La Chablisienne stands out for its unique model in which growers deliver pressed must rather than whole grapes, allowing precise control over winemaking. The cooperative celebrated its centenary in 2023 and is pursuing its commitment to sustainable viticulture, with the goal of reaching 100% HVE3 certification and 75% Terra Vitis certification by 2026.

The vineyard
The Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" comes from the eponymous climat located on the left bank of the Serein, spanning around 105 hectares. This terroir benefits from a south-east exposure that supports balanced ripening. The shallow soils rest on a subsoil of Kimmeridgian limestone rich in oyster fossils, characteristic of Chablis’ great terroirs, topped with compact clays that can become sticky after rainfall. This clay-limestone composition gives the wines their intense minerality and distinctive saline tension. La Chablisienne’s parcels within this climat comprise vines with an average age of twenty-five years, planted at a density of 5,500 to 6,500 vines per hectare, allowing deep rooting into the limestone.

The vintage
The 2018 vintage offered overall favorable conditions in Burgundy and in the Chablis region. The growing season unfolded without the major climatic constraints that affected other years, enabling proper grape ripening with a good balance between sugar ripeness and phenolic ripeness. This vintage produced fresh, balanced, aromatic wines with fine structure.

Winemaking and aging
After receiving the pressed must, the Chablis 1er cru "Vaillons" 2018 underwent cold settling to naturally clarify the juice before fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, allowing precise temperature management and preserving primary aromas. Malolactic fermentation also took place in stainless-steel tanks. The wine was then aged for around twelve months on fine lees, without stirring, in a combination of stainless-steel tanks and wooden barrels, providing a balance between freshness and complexity at the final blending stage before bottling.

Grape variety
Chardonnay (100%)