Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Vaudesir 2020

The Moulin de Vaudon, the property of Joseph Drouhin, is an 18th Century watermill straddling the Serein River close to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis. Flowing gently past hillsides covered with vineyards, the river has always been closely identified with Chablis and its region. Because of its unique location at the heart of their 38 hectare (95 acre) vineyard estate, this historical mill is the headquarters of the Drouhin Domaine in Chablis. 

Joseph Drouhin was a precursor and pioneer in this great wine region for 45 years and strengthened the identity of their prestigious Chablis Domaine. With this in mind, and starting with the 2008 vintage, the name "Vaudon" was placed on the labels of all of Drouhin's Chablis wines as a sign of the firm's allegiance to this historical terroir.

Vaudésir is a world-famous vineyard whose terrain has no equivalent in Burgundy. Its round shape and steep slope evoke an ancient amphitheater. There are two major exposures--one is due south in the northern section and the other south west in the southern section. It is one of the largest among the seven Grand Crus of Chablis.

The Kimmeridgian limestone soil 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. Drouhin's Vaudésir parcel is 1.4 ha (3.5 acres) with vines averaging 30 years. The Drouhin family has been farming their vines with biodynamic methods since 1999, making the special character of the soils shine through even more. They also age the wine in oak for 12 months, but do not use any new oak, so as not to make the final wine taste oaky at all. 

Tasting note from winemaker Véronique Boss-Drouhin: An exquisite wine often drunk on its own as an aperitif. Pure and limpid color, with a faint greenish hint. On the nose, fresh aromas of flower and fruit (lemony flavors) and, at times, spicy notes of coriander. On the palate: harmonious aromas bringing character and elegance. The magnitude of its Grand Cru origin and the light salty notes from the Kimmeridgian soil are in evidence. Remarkably long and complex persistence in the aftertaste.