Domaine Gérard Duplessis Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2019

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Type: White Wine

Grape: Chardonnay

A family domaine for five generations, Lilian Duplessis is the latest vigneron of this estate, created in 1895, having taken over for his father Gerard in 1999.  After going to school and internships in the region (“There was no point in making Sauvignon blanc in New Zealand, I needed to know how to work Chardonnay in Burgundy” he says), Lilian has turned the domaine into one of the very few organic estates in Chablis. The Duplessis family makes a beautiful array of terroir-specific Chablis from well-situated plots in the village, showing respect for the soil and utilizing traditional methods in the cellar.

The domaine is entirely within the Chablis and Petit Chablis AOCs and is planted solely to Chardonnay.  Most of the vineyards are Premier Cru (Vaugiraut, Vaillons, Fourchaume, Montee de Tonnerre, Montmains, Mont de Milieu) and one Grand Cru (Les Clos).  All vineyards used for village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru wines are Kimmeridgian limestone, with the Petit Chablis on Portlandian limestone.

Vaillons is from four parcels (Minot, Epinottes, Séchet, and Chatain) on southeast exposure, and may be the most exotic of all the crus. Citrus and floral notes add brightness to this salty, crisp and vibrant wine.