For the winemakers of Chablis the 2024 vintage was about as difficult as they come. Spring frosts, months of rain, summer hailstorms, and relentless humidity in the vines all combined to produce one of the smallest crops in recent memory. But handled correctly, the vintage also produced thrilling wines shot with tension and vibrant energy – a return to classical Chablis.
For years now Jasper Morris has called Cyril Gautheron “a superb producer making wines in a crisp cool classically Chablis style,” and the 2024 vintage provides a ringing affirmation of this praise. The wines are a beautiful showcase for Cyril’s skills and for the subtleties of Chablis terroir.
Gautheron’s Chablis 1er cru Vaucoupin is raised entirely in stainless steel. The south facing vineyard provides ample ripeness, even in a dreary vintage like 2024. The resulting wine is dense, laser focused, and bursting with saline freshness. Jasper Morris found it “strict on the nose with excellent energy on the palate…lively reverberations all the way through.” A Chablis for purists, and a bargain to boot.
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Gautheron Chablis 1er cru “Vaucoupin” 2024
bottle price: $48

