Louis Michel & Fils is a historic, family-run domaine in Chablis, founded in 1850, renowned for producing pure, precise Chardonnay wines vinified exclusively in stainless steel to highlight the terroir.
The 2023 Vaillons exhibits the most mineral nose so far, with straw, wet stones and pine tree aromas. On the palate, a combination of rum butter and lemon; a little less fat than the other premier cru wines, more stony, mineraly and earthy with a bit of stone-ground wheat on the finish.
92 Jasper Morris Pale colour with some concentration. This has stayed entirely in white fruit but with more flesh than usual, though still a mineral backbone and a little salinity. Barrel Sample: 90-92
91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Informed by deep soils, Michel’s 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is one of the more fleshy, charming wines. Soaring from the glass with a bouquet of yellow fruit, pastries and clear honey, it’s full-bodied and lively, with tangy structuring acids a long, saline finish. As always, it offers immediate appeal, though under Diam closure, it shall age well.
93 John Gilman of View From the Cellar The Michel family’s 2023 Vaillons is also outstanding. The bouquet here is bright and deep, offering up scents of pear, apple, lemon zest, white lilies, a beautiful foundation of chalky soil tones and a top note of lemon zest. On the palate the wine is pure, precise and full-bodied, with excellent depth of fruit at the core, fine soil signature, vibrant acids and a long, seamlessly balanced and complex finish. Fine, fine juice. 2025-2050.
90 Vinous The 2023 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru has a lovely, finely delineated bouquet with yellow plum, petrichor and light honeysuckle scents. The palate is well balanced with a crisp entry, decent weight and grip. It's lightly spiced with a little white pepper toward the finish. This should offer several years of drinking pleasure.
