Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin

Domaine Jean-Paul et Benoît Droin is based in the town of Chablis, in northern Burgundy. The estate's own history records Droin families holding vines in the appellation before 1537 and traces its winegrowing line to the early seventeenth century. Benoît Droin is the thirteenth generation; he joined in 1999 and runs the estate today, working around 26 hectares spread over sixteen climats.

The holdings cover four levels of appellation. There are five Grands Crus: Blanchot, Valmur, Vaudésir, Grenouille and Les Clos, the 1.42 hectare Les Clos parcel now bottled as Hommage à Louis. The nine Premiers Crus are Fourchaume, Vaulorent, Mont de Milieu, Montée de Tonnerre and Vaucoupin on the right bank of the Serein, and Vaillons, Montmains, Côte de Léchet and Vosgros on the left bank. Petit Chablis and village Chablis complete the range.

Pressing is pneumatic, and fermentation takes place partly in stainless steel tank and partly in barrel, the two portions blended after eight to ten months. New oak is limited and reaches about ten per cent on the Grands Crus, while Petit Chablis and Chablis are raised in tank alone. The wines show citrus and green apple fruit with a saline, stony finish. Rows are ploughed or left grassed and treatments are kept low. Arcana Cabinet lists four of its wines: the Petit Chablis and three of the nine Premiers Crus, Fourchaume, Montée de Tonnerre and Montmains.