Domaine Laroche 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vaudevey

The first is a stunning 1er cru Chablis from Nicholas Wines favorite, Domaine Laroche. It’s drawn off of 1er cru vineyard Vaudevey, which sits in a cool and narrow valley. If you haven’t heard of it, that’s ok, the entire vineyard is split among just three owners with Domaine Laroche owning about a quarter of it.

The valley receives only a sliver of the sun each day, which helps preserve acidity, and because of this it is the last vineyard in the Domaine Laroche portfolio to be harvested each year. The other factor is the amazing slope – 30 to 50 degrees – yielding perfectly irrigated vines but makes hand harvesting a must and a bear.