From a slope with a telling gradient, facing due south and swept by the cool breezes of the valley, the Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaucopins 2023 from the Domaine Long-Depaquit celebrates the purity and depth of Chardonnay at its most vibrant. Here the terroir is drawn like a stroke of ink on stone: the marls of the Kimmeridgian infuse the wine with aristocratic minerality, an almost tactile salinity, and a light smoky veil that recalls struck flint. 2023 gives a sunlit yet restrained fruit profile, an aromatic precision embracing white peach, crisp pear, zesty citrus and a hint of hawthorn, while a lithe, upright structure extends the sensation with nobility. This bottle is aimed at lovers of wines of place, those seeking subtle balance, readable energy and a finish that lingers long after the last sip. Rated 93/100 by James Suckling, the cuvée confirms its stature as a great Chablis 1er Cru, able to charm now and to develop further complexity over time with notes of damp chalk and pale spices.

Blend and winemaking

This wine is a Chardonnay from the 2023 harvest, grown on the Les Vaucopins climat in Chichée, on the right bank of the Serein. Parcel selection and careful picking ensure grapes enter the cellar at just the right ripeness, offering a natural balance of concentration and freshness. Gentle pressing, fermentation at controlled temperature, then ageing on fine lees contribute to a texture edged with finesse without masking the mineral backbone that defines this terroir. The ageing, handled with restraint, aims for aromatic clarity, fruit precision and saline uprightness, with the use of wood intentionally discreet to support the material without imprinting it. The result, exemplary in its clarity, combines purity, intensity and length while preserving the crystalline dimension prized by fans of top-tier Chablis 1er Cru.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Pale gold with silver highlights, clear and bright. This transparency suggests a frank expression driven by fresh acidity and a finely cut texture. A slight viscosity rims the glass, a sign of precise fruit and careful ageing.
• Nose: Initial notes of gunflint and a smoky hint, then a range of ripe white fruits unfolds, vine peach, crunchy pear and zesty citrus. Floral touches of hawthorn and linden mingle with fresh hazelnut and oyster shell nuances, a signature of the Kimmeridgian marls and viticulture respectful of natural balance.
• Palate: A direct, lithe attack bathed in delicate salinity. The mid-palate broadens with pulpy fruit, without weight, then mineral tension tightens the whole into a long, precise, vibrant trail. The oak, where present, remains discreet, and the persistent finish conjures flint, ripe lemon and a touch of pale spices.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve between 11 and 13°C to reveal the aromatic brightness and saline drive that define Les Vaucopins. A short decanting of a few minutes can help the wine open, especially in its youth, while preserving its taut structure. Prefer medium-sized tulip glasses to round the texture and channel the smoky and citrus nuances. Store horizontally, in a cool, dark place; this 1er Cru can be enjoyed now for the purity of its fruit, and will gain complexity over 5 to 7 years and beyond, when aromas of damp chalk, fine honey and dried fruit may emerge. The recognition of 93/100 James Suckling underlines the class of the vintage and the refined interpretation of this luminous terroir.

Food pairings

• Aperitif: fine Claire oysters, grey prawns, herb fish rillettes. Its natural salinity elevates the iodized freshness without weighing it down.
• Starters: scallop carpaccio, sea bream ceviche, sea bass tartare with citrus. The chiselled acidity balances texture and highlights lemon and grapefruit brightness.
• Main courses: roasted turbot with lemoned butter, sole meunière, grilled monkfish, and also free-range poultry and delicately roasted veal. The mineral length complements light sauces and reduced jus.
• Cheeses: fresh goat cheeses, young Comté, sheep tomme. The wine, nervy and caressing, converses with lactic saltiness and reveals subtle buttery nuances.
• Desserts: thin citrus tart, lemon-mint shortbread, lightly sweetened yellow-fruit pavlova. For a meal finale, favour a light sweetness to respect the wine's balance.

Moments to enjoy

This Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaucopins 2023 is a natural companion for the following moments:

• To celebrate an iodized apéritif where the sea meets the minerality of a great terroir.
• At a gastronomic dinner focused on noble fish and roasted poultry.
• As a connoisseur's gift to offer someone who appreciates taut, expressive whites.

Details

• Name : Les Vaucopins 2023, Domaine Long-Depaquit
• Appellation : Chablis 1er Cru AOC
• Type : Dry white wine
• Vintage : 2023
• Grape : Chardonnay (100%)
• Alcohol : indicated on the vintage label
• Ageing : aged on fine lees, emphasising fruit precision
• Volume : 75 cl
• Cellaring : 5 to 7 years and beyond depending on cellar conditions
• Serving temperature : 11–13°C