Domaine Laroche : Chablis 1er cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2024 from Domaine Laroche

Tasting

Nose
The bouquet reveals itself as particularly complex and intense, its aromatic concentration heightened by the very low yields of the year. It opens with a great freshness of citrus, accompanied by a slight reduction that gives it plenty of energy.

Palate
On the palate, this cru stands out through remarkable tension and a distinctly "steely" profile. The attack is lively and citrusy, revealing a firm structure sculpted by minerality. The finish, persistent and dynamic, points to remarkable potential.

Food and Wine Pairings

The citrusy tension and minerality of this cru pair beautifully with pan-seared scallops. It also shines alongside white meats in creamy sauces, such as veal blanquette, as well as matured cheeses like Comté, Brie or Chaource.

Serving and Cellaring

Displaying lovely energy and a slight reduction in its youth, this Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2024 will benefit from a little aeration or a few years of cellaring to fully open up. Its taut structure ensures excellent ageing potential.

The tension and rarity of a great white Chablis wine by Domaine Laroche

The Estate

Founded in 1850 by Jean-Victor Laroche, Domaine Laroche is a historic figure of Chablis, in Burgundy. Now owned by the AdVini group and led by Jean-Baptiste Mouton, the estate spans 90 hectares of vines in Chablis and 40 hectares in Languedoc. Its identity is deeply rooted in the Obédiencerie, a former 9th-century monastery where the wine has been aged for over a thousand years. A pioneer in agro-ecology, the estate has been HVE 3 certified since 2016 and stands out for its biodiversity-focused approach, illustrated by its philosophy of entrusting each plot to a single dedicated person.

The Vineyard

The Climat Les Vaillons is an early-ripening, sun-drenched terroir in Chablis, facing south and east within an open, well-ventilated valley. The estate cultivates a 2.17-hectare plot here, made up of old vines aged between 60 and 65 years. Deeply rooted in stony soils resting on Kimmeridgian marl and limestone, these vines benefit from rigorous agro-ecological management. The soils are maintained without any herbicides, protected by natural plant cover, and the plant material comes from massale selection to preserve the diversity and health of the vineyard.

The Vintage

2024 proved particularly challenging for this plot of old vines, which suffered significant hail damage. This major weather event caused considerable stress to the vines and drastically reduced the harvest, limiting yields to around 20 hectolitres per hectare. These difficult weather conditions thus shaped an extremely rare vintage, characterised by very low production but exceptional concentration in the grapes.

Winemaking and Ageing

Although the precise details of the cellar work for this particular year have not yet been fully revealed, the Chablis 1er Cru "Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes" 2024 was tasted while still ageing, from barrel samples. Traditionally for this cuvée, the estate favours vinification combining stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels, followed by ageing on fine lees to preserve the purity of the fruit while adding complexity.

Grape Variety

This wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay (100%).