Chablis 2021: New Releases

This is the pinnacle of the Droin wines, and one of the finest grand cru cuvées in Chablis. The wine's special name is in celebration of Louis Droin, who bought this parcel in 1920, and was first used for the 2020 cuvée. It is tight and nervous, with power bubbling beneath the still surface.

Valmur is pressed up against Les Clos; the contour of its slope, where much faces northwest, make it slightly cooler than other parts of the grand cru. 40% aged in oak gives exotic spice and stone fruit aromas. The palate is generous and rounded with amazing density and concentration, which is underpinned by the acid and mineral disposition of the vintage. The finish is remarkable, long, elegant, saline and packed full of juicy stone fruit. Very well judged indeed.

Benoît’s village Chablis is one of the best out there. It's a blend of about 14 parcels all made in tank. The 2021 is classicly mineral, flinty and more savoury in style than in previous years. It has a tension and persistence that reverberates across the palate. Nice chalky freshness, with a long, saline finish and poised citrus fruit. Brilliant value.

Vaudésir sits at the top of the grand cru hill, and enjoys a steep incline, making it one of the sunnier spots in the grand cru. This 2021 has so much precision and density, with an elegant perfume giving it surprising accessibility in youth. The palate has a great texture, an attack of pure ripe citrus fruit, simultaneously elegant and powerful. The finish is grippy, saline and very long - classic Chablis.

This comes from a blend of three parcels (including an 80 year old parcel), which are picked and vinified separately. Samuel says these three parts contribute complexity, richness, and minerality to the blend. That’s a pretty good combination for a Chablis. It has a delicious depth of green apple and citrus fruit with a satisfying weight. Its persistent length is mineral, saline and refreshing.

Preuses is famous for its minerality, derived from its chalky soils. In Samuel’s hands it delivers this typicity in spades. It is tense and refined, with a razor-like edge to the acidity. Of all Samuel’s grands crus, this will open up the earliest, giving it an exceptional drinking window that should easily see you through a decade.

This is the most prized vineyard in Chablis, and with good reason. The wine has a level of intensity and precision that is only possible with fruit of impeccable quality. It has a whisper of smoke on the nose, and the promise of complex evolution as this ages. With only 1 barrel made in 2021, this is a wine to secure on release.

Vaudésir sits high up on the grand cru hill, and is a sunny site whose steep incline catches the sun’s rays. The wine is deceptively full bodied, with power and precision driving through the saline, mineral finish. Fantastic energy and verve. Bravo Samuel!

A marine influenced bouquet combines with touches of granite and a light smoky note (the oak came predominantly from Chassagne as well as Hermitage). The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity, focused with a touch of pear complementing the citrus fruit. The finish is long, fine and mineral.

Maurice, William’s father planted some of these vines in 1948. Since then, the domaine has grown its holdings, and it is now the largest owner of Chablis’ greatest site with over 4 hectares. Many of the vines are situated at the top of the hill, in a cool site, where the best soils are found. White flower, citrus fruit and apple and pear blossom aromas combine. On the palate the wine is packed full of white peach, oyster brine, clementine and limestone minerality. Powerful and complex, yet so, so elegant. A true grand cru in every sense.

Preuses tends to be the most mineral and chalky of the grand cru lieux-dits, and the 2.5 hectare Fèvre example is quintessential. It is taut and mineral, with wonderful depth on the nose. The palate has harmonious energy and focus, and there is a long, zippy line of mineral freshness that stretches right down to the limey, persistent finish. A brilliant wine that should age notably well in bottle.

40 parcels scattered across 4 hectares go into this blend, from vines with an average age of 50 years. Much of these are grown around Chichee, near Vosgros, and give the quality you might expect in a premier cru. The result is a village Chablis of brilliant precision, with long volume and a saline, fresh finish.

This comes from the parcel at the bottom of the slope, by the river. Its soil always lends wines lots of saltiness and minerality, Didier says. A beguiling bouquet brings notes of honeysuckle, peach skin and candied lemon. The palate is highly concentrated with a piercing saline and lime citrus freshness. There are wonderful hints of orange pith and a touch of ginger on the spicy, vibrant finish. Fantastic.

Vaudésir is shaped like an amphitheatre, and catches the sun. The major parcel of the 1.2 hectares that Fevre owns here, is adjacent to Moutonne on marn soils. As a result, the fruit ripens early here and needs to be picked at the right time. Engaging aromas of orange blossom and zingy citrus lemon reverberate on the nose. The palate is expertly balanced with a fine core of citrus acidity, evolving into lemon rind with a hint of mandarin on the linear yet fine finish.

Maurice, William’s father planted some of these vines in 1948. Since then, the domaine has grown its holdings, and it is now the largest owner of Chablis’ greatest site with over 4 hectares. Many of the vines are situated at the top of the hill, in a cool site, where the best soils are found. White flower, citrus fruit and apple and pear blossom aromas combine. On the palate the wine is packed full of white peach, oyster brine, clementine and limestone minerality. Powerful and complex, yet so, so elegant. A true grand cru in every sense.

This comes from 1.1 hectares split over three parcels in Troisème with a southerly-orientation. It has a riper bouquet with hints of yellow plum and quince, but remains well defined and focused, a faint flintiness appearing with time. The palate is well balanced with nice weight and fine acidity.

William Fèvre owns half of this grand cru (6 hectares), so it’s no wonder theirs is the best example you will find. Its clay soils make a flattering, comparatively early-drinking grand cru, which will wow from early on. The nose reveals smoky aromas of green fruit, citrus and mineral reduction. The palate has great density and concentration with plenty of peach and nectarine texture. Every year we remark what good value this is, and 2021 is no different.

William Fèvre owns half of this grand cru (6 hectares), so it’s no wonder theirs is the best example you will find. Its clay soils make a flattering, comparatively early-drinking grand cru, which will wow from early on. The nose reveals smoky aromas of green fruit, citrus and mineral reduction. The palate has great density and concentration with plenty of peach and nectarine texture. Every year we remark what good value this is, and 2021 is no different.

This old vine cuvée takes the prize for ‘hidden gem’ of our Chablis range. It comes from 40- to almost 70-year-old vines scattered across seven parcels, with a variety of soil structures and exposures. Due to the size of the harvest in 2021, Romain blended his Chablis grapes into this cuvee too. It is mineral, zingy, green-appley-fresh and concentrated, with great drive and depth. This may be a wine of humble communal classification, but it has a profound character, and deserves special attention.

Bessin’s Valmur is arguably the best value grand cru in Burgundy. And in spite of its great value, the wine’s potential for ageing should not be underestimated. The 2021 is an elegantly powerful, green-apple scented, chalky,saline, and persistent wine absolutely deserving of its grand cru status. This should be magnificent after a decade in the cellar, if you can wait.