Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Grand cru "Valmur" 2021/2022

Jean-Paul Benoît Droin Chablis Grand Cru "Valmur" 2021 is a prestigious white, widely recognised for its power, precision and longevity. In 2021, this Grand Cru stands out for a slightly fresher, more vibrant profile than usual for this climat, normally known for its robustness and body.

The Wine Advocate
RP 93+

Reviewed by: William Kelley

Layered and mineral, the 2021 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur unfurls in the glass with aromas of orange oil, pear, white flowers, iodine and light honey. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's deep and vibrant, ending with a long, saline finish.

As I've written before, benoît Droin's extremely reliable wines are among the region's most consistent and, to my palate, the combination of Diam closures and élevage using recently used and occasionally new oak (though only up to 10%) means these wines need a few years in bottle to show their best. Still, everything invariably integrates impressively, and the wines age very gracefully. Viticulture is conventional at this 26-hectare domaine, but the soils are worked mechanically and synthetic treatments are kept to a minimum. Harvesting is early and partly mechanised, followed by fermentation and élevage in stainless steel and wood, in proportions that vary by cuvée. In 2021, Droin chose to pick quite early, in one go, reporting good sanitary conditions, with wines that reminded him of a richer, fleshier version of 2007.

Critic James Suckling scored Jean-Paul Benoît Droin Chablis Grand Cru “Valmur” 2021 96 points, underlining its high quality.

He notes an aromatic profile marked by intense notes of Sicilian lemon and green apple, with a delicate touch of white spice. On the palate he describes it as medium to full-bodied, with impressive tension and vibrant acidity that carries the finish long and mineral.

He also highlights the great purity and energy of the whole, noting that the oak is perfectly balanced, only reinforcing the structure without masking the wine's character.