Jean-Paul Droin Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2018 2023

This Chablis Premier Cru comes from Jean-Paul Benoit Droin, whose family has made wine in the Chablis valley of northern Burgundy for generations. Montmains is a premier cru on the left bank of the Serein, on a cooler, west-facing slope that tends to give tense, mineral wines. Its character comes from the Kimmeridgian soil, a marly limestone rich in fossil oyster shells left by the ancient sea that once covered the region. That calcareous base and the cool northern climate give the Chardonnay high acidity and a chalky, saline minerality. The wine is aged for ten months in French oak, with older barrels used rather than new wood so the oak adds gentle structure and a slow oxygen exchange without dominating the fruit. Lees ageing adds a little texture and a soft savoury depth while the stony drive stays central. The colour is pale gold with green tints. The nose shows lemon, green apple and pear with a hint of hazelnut and chamomile. The palate is dry, precise and long, with citrus fruit and a mineral, saline finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.