Julien Bouchard Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2023

The village of Chablis lies in the northern reaches of France’s Burgundy region, and is home to some of the most sought-after Chardonnay—usually unoaked, and always fresh, bright and crisp. Julien Bouchard Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons is a complex and compelling example with an appealing balance of ripe fruit, florals and the hallmark minerality for which Chablis is so beloved—and a testament to the historic partnership that brought the wine to life (see below for details).

A Phenomenal Find: This selection was sourced from the sustainably farmed vineyards of Château Long-Depaquit within the Vaillons Premier Cru on the western side of the Serein River. Though vines in this neck of the woods yield excellent fruit, those classified as Premier Cru and Grand Cru are considered the best of the best, and Vaillons is one of the most renowned Crus in this area.

Here, the region’s famous Kimmeridgian soils are mosaicked with clay and limestone across an ideal, slightly warmer, southeasterly aspect. It’s a combination of elements that yields softer, more fruitful and more expressive versions of Chablis, all of which plays out beautifully in this wine.

Though its nose is subtle—floral and faintly salty, hinting at just-ripening orchard fruit—it really wows on the palate, offering a drama of tangy green apple and Bartlett pear that hugs a line of flinty minerals. Multidimensional and utterly satisfying, this is a wine that encourages you to linger a little longer at the table.

A Dream Partnership: In Burgundy, the house of Albert Bichot is legendary, having owned land there since the 14th century and produced wine since the early 1800s. Today, it remains a family-run company that owns its own vineyards (including six domaines throughout the region, like Domaine Long-Depaquit, from which this Chablis comes). However, Bichot is also a négociant-éleveur, which means it can supplement its own fruit with purchased grapes, freshly crushed juice or unfinished wine from a network of small growers.

The approach allows access to an enviable collection of vineyards and has enabled them to produce premium wines without premium price tags. This is part of the reason Decanter has called Albert Bichot “one of the region’s most dynamic, quality-focused” estates.

For 50 years, Julien Bouchard dedicated himself to making some of the finest wines in Burgundy. In 1955, without anyone to leave his winery and vineyards to, he selected the team at Albert Bichot to become stewards of his life’s work and continue his legacy. Nearly 30 years later, we are happy to bring the Bouchard range to the U.S.

As you might guess, our supply of this fine Premier Cru Chablis is extremely limited, with just 100 cases to go around. First come, first served.