2018 Drouhin-Vaudon, Chablis Grand Cru, Preuses

The 2018 Chablis Preuses Grand Cru shows a more lush, tropical side of this site. This is an unusually rich, oily and tropical Preuses that is very much marked by the personality of the vintage. I imagine the 2018 will find a bit better balance in time. Today, it is decidedly racy and open-knit, especially within the context of Preuses.

The 2018 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru comes from half a hectare of vines that were replanted in 2007. It spent 12 months in used oak barrels. It has a fresh yellow plum, white peach and fern-scented nose that is nicely defined but needs more intensity. The palate is taut and fresh, the sour lemon on the entry dovetailing into tropical notes of passion fruit and orange zest. There is a sense of energy on the finish, perhaps because the vines are younger, though it does not possess the complexity of either the Les Clos or the Vaudésir.