Featured Wine: 2014 Jean Paul Droin Chablis ‘Les Clos’
In many circles, Burgundy is considered one of the most challenging regions to master by even the most proficient wine connoisseurs. When I came into the business I vividly remember my mentors telling me “don’t worry, one day Burgundy will just ‘click’ but until then, keep studying.” They were right and eventually it did “click” and now, like countless others, I am completely head over heels in love with Burgundy. My passion for Burgundy does not end with the wine itself, but extends to encompass all that goes into Burgundy: the simplicity of the varietals, the geography, climate and the producers themselves. Simply put, the “terroir.” In my opinion, there is no region in the world where terroir is more important than it is in Burgundy. As they say in the world of real estate, “location, location, location,” and location is most definitely the most important factor in determining the success of the greatest producers in Burgundy.
Explaining Burgundy to someone who is unfamiliar with the region is one of my absolute favorite topics of discussion. Every time I explain that all red Burgundy is Pinot Noir and all white Burgundy is Chardonnay, I usually get a very confused look followed by a number of questions. But after tasting thousands of different Bugundies over the years, I completely understand the confusion. How can all of those bottles taste so different if they all originate from the exact same varietal? The answer is simple…terroir.
When you break it down, the massive complexity of the entire region is actually extremely simple when closely examined. Take Chablis for example... Chablis is the northern most sub-region of the wine producing area known as Burgundy. Within Chablis, there are smaller divisions known as “climats”. Each climat is then divided up by the various producers who own the rights to produce wine from certain portions of that climat. Using our featured wine as an example, Jean Paul Droin owns a piece of the climat, or vineyard, called “Les Clos”. The “Les Clos” vineyard is generally regarded as having the best terroir in all of Chablis and also happens to be the largest of the Grand Cru (best) plots. The vineyard sits on higher elevation than its peers, and the soil is composed of mostly limestone and clay which impart a distinct minerality and structure that is unrivaled by Chardonnay produced in other regions. The 2014 vintage for Chablis is no exception as the wines are extremely clean and balanced with striking minerality and bright refreshing character.
As mentioned above, there are other producers who hold claim to portions of the “Les Clos” and this is where terroir becomes your financial ally. The biggest names in Chablis make their own version of “Les Clos”; legendary producers such as Fevre, Dauvissat and Raveneau. A bottle of “Les Clos” from one of these producers in a great vintage like 2014 will sell for more than $200 per bottle! There is no doubt that the Raveneau or Dauvissat Les Clos are going to be stunning bottles, but if you want to try a “Les Clos” on a tighter budget, there are more affordable options such as this 2014 Jean Paul Droin ‘Les Clos’ at only $69.99. It’s the same vintage, same region, same climat, and only a fraction of the price of the big name producers. This is why 2014 is the vintage you should be buying. The wines are all excellent from top to bottom and when you can get the biggest name in Grand Cru Chablis for this kind of low price, you should buy all you can! They have the structure to age well for several years, but are extremely approachable now. Critics are raving about the 2014 vintage, too.
"The 2014 vintage...simply brilliant in Chablis...it is quite clear that this region is an absolute star of 2014. The wines have very, very pure, generous and seamlessly integrated fruit in this vintage..." - John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
The 2014 Droin ‘Les Clos’ that was sampled showed incredibly well. The color is a light straw, and on sight alone could easily be mistaken for a Sauvignon Blanc. It has a light floral nose with a hint of granny smith apple and subtle citrus notes. Across the palate, the flavors are extremely clean and well defined with striking minerality, racing acidity and a succulent, citrus finish that is the perfect balance of sweet and tart while lasting every bit of thirty seconds. Although this bottle was enjoyed on its own, it would have paired perfectly with a light vinaigrette dressed salad, grilled swordfish steak, or citrus flavored dish such as chicken piccata.
I highly suggest you click here to shop all of the 2014 Chablis that we currently have available. Whether you select a “village” wine, Premier Cru or the biggest name in Grand Cru, I promise you will not be disappointed.