2022 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin - Chablis (750ml)

Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin traces an unbroken line of winegrowers in Chablis back to 1620, one of the oldest family estates in the appellation. Jean-Paul Droin became something of an unofficial historian of the Chablis vineyard, and his son Benoît joined the domaine in 2002, bringing fresh energy while preserving the family's traditional approach. Together they farm twenty-six hectares spanning Petit Chablis, village Chablis, premier cru, and grand cru sites.

This village-level bottling grows on the Kimmeridgian limestone soils, rich in fossilized oyster shells, that define the Chablis appellation and give its wines their signature minerality. Fermentation takes place with ambient yeasts in stainless steel vats, followed by full malolactic conversion, and the wine is aged mainly in stainless steel to preserve its freshness rather than layer on oak character.

The wine offers aromas of citrus, white flowers, and wet stone, with flecks of white peach and apricot on the palate. Crisp and precise, it carries a bright, saline minerality through a long, focused finish typical of the appellation. It pairs well with grilled shrimp, sushi, or a young, fresh goat cheese.