2023 Domaine Oudin Chablis, Burgundy

Domaine Oudin’s 2023 Chablis, composed of 15 estate parcels in Chichée and accounting for 70% or production, is vinified for 12 months on the lees in tank, similar to the two premiers crus. It opens with a bouquet of white flowers, lemon zest and green apple. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, textural yet vibrant and laden with succulent acidity, and it finishes with a delicate saline note; though, in context, it’s somewhat softer than their other wines.

This small domaine in the village of Chichée amounts to 10 hectares. Since 2007, Nathalie Oudin, now assisted by her sister Isabelle, has led the enterprise, which was started by their parents with less than two hectares of vines. From the beginning, the Oudins refused to use herbicides and worked their soils, meaning no weedkillers have been used for over 30 years. Four hectares of the domaine's holdings are planted with massal selections of Chardonnay (over 70 years old), with the rest planted with high-quality clones.

Nathalie has changed little, transitioning to ambient yeasts and adopting organic methods. The transition to organic farming began in 2021, with certification received in 2024—ironically, during two of the most challenging years for organic farming. The wines undergo 12 months of élevage on the lees (except for Les Serres, which matures for a full two years) in stainless steel, followed by light filtration and fining with bentonite, if necessary. This approach yields pure, concentrated and expressive wines that articulately showcase their terroirs, with Premier Cru Vaucoupins standing out in particular.

88 points Kristaps Karklins for The Wine Advocate

For generations, Domaine Oudin has crafted classic Chablis from family vineyards rooted in the region's famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Today, Nathalie Oudin continues the estate's tradition of producing wines that capture the purity, freshness and unmistakable mineral character that have made Chablis one of the world's great expressions of Chardonnay.

The 2023 vintage delivered beautifully balanced fruit, with cool nights and warm summer days preserving freshness while allowing excellent flavour development. Gentle winemaking and extended lees contact have enhanced texture without overshadowing the vibrant fruit or the distinctive chalky minerality that defines Chablis.

Pale straw with brilliant green highlights, the bouquet reveals aromas of lemon zest, green apple and white peach layered with white flowers, oyster shell and subtle flinty notes. The palate is crisp and beautifully focused, combining vibrant citrus and orchard fruit with lively acidity and a finely etched mineral backbone. Long, refreshing and elegantly restrained, the finish lingers with saline freshness and classic Chablis precision.

An outstanding match for freshly shucked oysters, grilled whiting, seared scallops, sushi, goat's cheese or asparagus risotto. Equally suited as an aperitif or at the table, this is an authentic Chablis that beautifully reflects its remarkable terroir.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2030.