2023 Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru “Bougros”, Burgundy, France
ABOUT THIS WINE
In the sixties, when the Chablis vineyards were all abandoned, Robert Drouhin recognized the potential of this region which had been ravaged by the phylloxera disease a century before. He was one of the first Burgundy owners who set about revitalizing the area.
Grapes for this wine comes from the right bank of the Serein River, which flows through Chablis and its region. Located in the northwest corner of the Grand Cru slope. It has a remarkable south east exposure and the steepest slope of all the Grand Crus. The Kimmeridgian limestone here contains millions of tiny marine fossils embedded in a kind of whitish mortar which may have been once the bottom of the sea...hundreds of million years ago. This marine origin gives the wines of Chablis their unique flavor.
Grapes are hand-harvested into open-work crates. If necessary, a careful sorting is proceeded. After harvest, the grapes are slow pressed utilizing whole bunches in a pneumatic press. The juice of the last press is separated from the free run-juice. The juice is transferred to an existing wine barrel (or older) after a little settling.
The alcoholic fermentation and the aging is being processed in oak barrels (500 liters, no new barrels) during 12 to 15 months. Throughout the aging process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in Beaune in 1880, when Joseph Drouhin took over a wine business at just 22 years old. Over four generations, the family developed the house into both a major vineyard owner and a négociant, meaning Drouhin produces wines from its own vineyards while also working with grapes from trusted growers. Today, its estate holdings span roughly 100 hectares throughout Burgundy, from Chablis through the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune to the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. The holdings include celebrated sites such as Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Grands Échezeaux, Corton-Charlemagne, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches.
Drouhin is particularly known for an elegant, restrained style rather than sheer power. The family describes elegance and harmony as guiding principles, aiming for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that emphasize perfume, freshness, finesse, and transparency to their vineyard sites. Under Philippe Drouhin, the estate began moving toward organic and biodynamic farming in the late 1980s, using practices such as cover crops, composting, horse plowing, and biodynamic preparations. In the cellar, the approach is similarly sensitive, with indigenous yeasts and techniques adapted to the individual vineyard rather than imposing one formula on every wine.
The modern family leadership includes fourth-generation siblings Philippe, Véronique, Laurent, and Frédéric Drouhin. Philippe oversees the vineyards, while Véronique has an especially important role in defining the family's wine style. The fifth generation has also begun entering the business.
Details:
| Grape(s) | Chardonnay |
| Farming | Organic |