2016 Chablis Vaillons Vieilles Vignes

A rich, ample wine, the 2016 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes bursts with aromas of honeyed citrus, green apple and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, textural and gourmand. It's an attractive wine, but it doesn't have the cut or tension of a great vintage.

Intense zesty citrus and green fruits on the nose. Lively and gently pure, much softer-tasting than many of the 2016s and not as intense on the palate as in the aroma. Gentle finish. (JH)

(from vines in the heart of Vaillons; about 35 hectoliters per hectare produced, or about the same as the Séchets; done entirely in tanks): Medium yellow. Yellow peach, orange zest and a hint of banana on the nose. Fat, fruity and rich but with moderate depth. A step up in thickness of texture from the village wine, showing harmonious acidity in a softer style. Nicely concentrated, textured wine with a strong saline finish. This struck me as distinctly more minerally than the 2015 was at this stage. The banana note carries through onto the dense palate but the finish is rescued by a mineral pungency.