Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024

The Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 is a highly acclaimed, classic French white Burgundy crafted from 100% Chardonnay. It comes from the Vaillons vineyard in Chablis, a south and south-east facing Premier Cru site, and is made by Benoît Droin. It shows white flowers, sea air and stone fruit, with a dense, creamy texture and a long, mineral finish.

In the glass it first reveals citrus confit and apricot, with a fresh, stony palate and a touch of grip.

This wine would pair well with oysters and shellfish, and it's a special weekend wine.

Droin normally makes about 35,000 bottles a year, but production fell by around 70% in 2024, according to James Suckling's Zekun Shuai.

What it tastes like

This wine has aromas of white flowers and sea air. On the palate, fresh stone fruit sits alongside a stony minerality and a creamy, dense texture, and the finish is long and compact.

Droin describes it as a very classical wine. As it ages it moves towards savoury aromas of menthol and oyster shell, and the floral notes fade. It's delicious.

Style at a glance

• Body: Medium
• Sweetness: Dry
• Acidity: Fresh and bright
• Oak: Part of the wine is fermented in barrel, which adds a creamy texture
• Style: Classic, mineral, creamy dry white

Food to enjoy this with

• Fresh oysters and other shellfish
• Grilled or pan-fried white fish
• Seared scallops with butter
• Regional Burgundy cheeses
• Roast chicken with lemon, where the wine's density stands up to the richer meat

Who makes it

The Droin family has been making wine in Chablis since at least 1620. Benoît Droin represents the 13th generation, following his father Jean-Paul.

Vaillons is a south and south-east facing Premier Cru site, protected from the north winds by the valley. Droin has 4.82 hectares here, with vines averaging 45 years old. Fossil oyster shells (Exogyra virgula) run through the Kimmeridgian limestone in the subsoil, and the clay at the surface turns sticky after rain.

The grapes are pressed gently, and the juice settles naturally for 12 to 24 hours at around 15°C. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in barrel. The wine completes malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity, and the batches are blended after 8 to 10 months.

About the vintage

Chris Mercer reported in Decanter that frost, hail and mildew hit Chablis in 2024, and that rainfall ran 50% above average through August. The harvest was less than half the size of 2023.

Zekun Shuai wrote for James Suckling that three hailstorms, spring frost and heavy rain cut crops sharply. The wines that were made show striking tension and crystalline minerality.

When to drink it

Droin says this wine can be enjoyed from its earliest years, and it gains complexity as it ages.

Technical details

Where to buy

The Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.

Questions we are often asked

What does Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 taste like?

The 2024 shows white flowers and sea air, with stone fruit and citrus confit. It has a creamy, dense texture and a long, stony finish.

Is Droin Vaillons oaked?

Partly. Droin ferments part of the wine in stainless steel and part in barrel.

What is Vaillons in Chablis?

Vaillons is a Premier Cru vineyard in Chablis. Droin's vines there face south and south-east, and grow over Kimmeridgian limestone.

How long can you keep Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024?

Droin says it can be enjoyed from its earliest years and gains complexity over time, moving towards menthol and oyster shell aromas.

Where can I buy Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024?

The Winery sells Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.