2022 Louis Moreau Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy

A touch of reduction blurs the nuance of the markedly more floral-suffused nose that reveals additional notes of shellfish and just sliced citrus. The sleek, well-detailed and more refined middleweight flavors aren't as powerful or rich yet I like the balance and overall sense of harmony. This understated effort is a Vaillons of finesse.

90-93 points Allen Meadows burghound.com Aug 2023, Drink 2027+ Outstanding

Note: from vines between 35 and 50 years of age evenly divided between parcels of Mélinots, Châtains and Roncières

Louis Moreau Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru is a beautifully detailed white Burgundy that leans into elegance and freshness rather than sheer power. Grown in one of the most expressive Premier Cru sites on Chablis' left bank, this wine offers the flinty minerality and citrus-driven precision the region is known for—wrapped in a slightly softer, more generous texture that makes Vaillons such a standout.

Louis Moreau, sixth-generation winemaker and custodian of Domaine Louis Moreau, brings a thoughtful, terroir-focused approach to his wines. Having studied viticulture in California before returning to his family's estate, he blends tradition with modern sensibility. His winemaking style is all about minimal intervention and clear expression of each individual vineyard.

Vaillons is a sun-catching amphitheatre with relatively warm soils, which brings a touch more roundness and stone fruit to its classic Chablis structure. The vines are grown on Kimmeridgian limestone, rich in fossilised marine life, which gives the wine its signature chalky edge and saline lift.

Fermented and aged in stainless steel, the wine stays on fine lees for several months, building texture and subtle complexity without masking the fruit or terroir. No oak is used—what you get is pure vineyard and variety.

On the nose, expect lemon blossom, crushed shell, pear skin and a hint of fennel. The palate is bright and layered with white peach, citrus oil and a flinty, linear backbone. The finish hums with freshness and a touch of sea breeze salinity.

This is a confident, quietly complex wine—perfect for oysters, grilled fish, or a roast chicken with tarragon.