CHABLIS
2023 1er Cru Vaillons Domaine Raoul Gautherin
| Grapes | Chardonnay |
| Colour | White |
| Origin | France, Burgundy |
| Other | Vegetarian, Vegan |
| District | Chablis |
| Classification | 1er Cru |
| ABV | 13.5% |
| Vineyard | Vaillons |
Pretty pale gold with glints of green. Volume, precision, juicy mouth watering middle, and as mineral as you like. 'I express the terroir, but I don't go too far', says Adrien - 'it's a Chablis at the level of a Premier Cru, so I'm not looking for originality; what is special about Vaillons (and Côte de Léchet) is how brilliantly they express 'Chablis' at Premier Cru level.' Well, this does all of that. L&S (Oct 2025)
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DELIVERY SERVICE
We offer free nationwide delivery on all orders over £150 (excluding Highlands & Islands). Express Delivery options also available.The 2023 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru is slightly paler than Gautherin's other cuvées. It foregoes the Vaillons' usual creaminess on the nose. This is a little more taut and stony at first, though after ten minutes, there are finely delineated hints of mascarpone and lemon verbena. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with lovely weight and texture. It's a little round, but there is sufficient acidity to keep this on its toes and the 2023 feels long on the finish. Warning: this will be difficult to resist. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2025)
Domaine Raoul Gautherin
Who knew that there was a top domaine in Chablis with a wide range Grands Crus, without a UK importer in 2025? Well thank you Neal Martin for this one - what a great discovery!
Clearly Raoul and his son Alain (who I am sure I visited in another, pre-L&S life, in about 1985 or 1986) have put this domaine on a fantastic footing. Judging by the 1992 Montmains which I drank with Alain's son Adrien, Alain himself was no slouch at winemaking either. But it seems that the arrival of Adrien in 2017 has added a whole new level of precision and intent.
What is truly remarkable is the way that many of the wines are treated individually for their own specificity - the Chablis is cold fermented and aged in tank, the Chablis Vieilles Vignes is aged 12 months in barrel, The Montmains is vinified and aged in concrete eggs, the Lys is aged up to 24 months in tank, the Vaudésir aged in barrel, and then the Vaudésir Reserve is aged longer yet in tank.
Our first tasting here was a revelation, and we very much look forward working with Adrien over the long term.
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