2023 Joseph Drouhin Reserve de Vaudon Chablis, Burgundy

Joseph Drouhin Réserve de Vaudon Chablis is a beautiful expression of classic Chablis, capturing the cool, chalk driven character that makes this corner of Burgundy so distinctive. The vineyards sit on ancient Kimmeridgian limestone, packed with fossilised oyster shells that give Chablis its unmistakable saline, mineral edge. It is a terroir that turns Chardonnay into something crisp, precise and quietly powerful.

Joseph Drouhin is one of Burgundy’s great historic houses, founded in 1880 and still family owned. Their Réserve de Vaudon is made from a selection of the best village level Chablis parcels, chosen for purity and balance rather than sheer weight. The winemaking is deliberately restrained, with fermentation in stainless steel and little to no new oak, allowing the vineyard character to lead.

In the glass, the wine shows lemon zest, green apple and white flowers, with a clear chalky, oyster shell minerality. The palate is fresh and linear, driven by bright acidity and a long, clean, saline finish that makes it wonderfully refreshing and food friendly.

This is a superb wine for the table. Fresh oysters, prawns, grilled fish, sushi, goat’s cheese or simple salads all shine alongside its precision and mineral drive.

Joseph Drouhin Réserve de Vaudon Chablis is designed to be enjoyed young for its vibrancy, but it will also age gracefully for five to eight years, gaining subtle honeyed and nutty notes while retaining its core freshness. It is a classic, reliable expression of Chablis that delivers real Burgundian character.