'It is time to accept that Droin is now one of the leading producers in Chablis.'
- Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2018
Chablis didn't manage the Cote d'Or's great escape in 2017; temperatures dropped too low in the night for the smoke and mirrors trick to work. But the location of the frost was different. In 2016 the lower levels of Chablis were most affected on the western side of the area but in 2017 it was the premiers and grands crus that were most badly hit.
The reduced yields have made quite concentrated wines in the affected vineyards and overall the beautiful ripeness that we saw in the Cote d'Or applies here too; Chablis terroir and fruit character were given an extra dimension by the long, sunny growing season. It is, after all, light that makes wine.
We've been huge fans of Droin since the 1990s. In those days Chablis itself was somewhat under the radar and not always that interesting. As the region has improved in quality and terroir expression, Benoit Droin has completely outperformed most of his peers and sits at the top of the pyramid of this Burgundy outpost. This is Chablis that ages beautifully, that has steel and terroir character and cool, northern fruit. /CW
'People often cite Domaines Raveneau and Vincent Dauvissat as the two greatest exponents of Chablis, however, I would like to add a third - Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin.' - Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2018
Thursday 10th January, 12-6:30pm: 2017 Burgundy en primeur sample tasting
Bishopsgate shop
Walkaround
£25 per person inc VAT (redeemable against 2017 Burgundy en primeur purchases
