Overview
An elegant and expressive Premier Cru from Domaine Moreau-Naudet, Vaillons is celebrated for its floral aromatics, vibrant citrus fruit and exceptional mineral precision. The 2024 vintage combines impressive concentration with a beautifully refined, layered palate, offering notes of crisp apple, orange peel and spring flowers, supported by chalky structure and a long, energetic finish. Awarded 93 points by Tim Atkin, this is a compelling, cellar-worthy expression of one of Chablis' most renowned Premier Cru vineyards.
Vineyard
Vaillons is situated on the left bank of the Serein River, between Montmains and Côte de Léchet. Its favourable position and diverse vineyard parcels contribute to the distinctive balance of floral elegance, fruit concentration and mineral intensity that defines this Premier Cru.
The domaine cultivates four parcels covering a total of 1.78 hectares. Vines planted in 1974 occupy the lieux-dits of Les Epinottes, a cooler section contributing freshness and precision, and Roncières, which provides additional fruit richness and texture. Two further parcels in Sécher contribute pronounced minerality and structure.
Each parcel is vinified separately before blending, allowing the individual characteristics of these exceptional vineyard sites to be preserved in the finished wine.
Viticulture & Winemaking
The estate practises organic viticulture, with carefully cultivated soils, low yields and hand harvesting to achieve optimal fruit ripeness. Grapes are gently pressed and fermented using indigenous yeasts, following the domaine's traditional, low-intervention winemaking philosophy.
Moreau-Naudet's Premier Cru wines typically undergo extended maturation on lees, combining stainless steel tanks with approximately 30% seasoned oak barrels. This approach develops texture and complexity without overwhelming the purity of the Chardonnay fruit. The 2024 Vaillons retains remarkable freshness, precision and the distinctive chalky mineral character of its terroir.
Critic Reviews
93/100 — Christy Canterbury MW — TimAtkin.com
Tasted March 2026
92/100 — Decanter
Tasted September 2025
90–92/100 — Kristaps Karklins, The Wine Advocate
“a satiny attack that leads into a layered core of crisp fruit framed by a chalky grip.”
Bill Nanson, Burgundy Report
“Wide, almost chiselled style – that’s beautiful in the mouth”
Producer
Domaine Moreau-Naudet is one of Chablis' most respected family estates, renowned for producing richly textured, mineral-driven Chardonnay with remarkable depth and ageing potential.
Stéphane Moreau transformed the estate after taking over from his father in 1993, championing organic viticulture, low yields, natural fermentations and extended maturation on lees. Following his passing in 2016, his wife Virginie Moreau continued this philosophy, maintaining the domaine's reputation for exceptional quality and authentic terroir expression.
Today, the estate farms approximately 26 hectares across Chablis, from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru, producing wines recognised for their concentration, precision and distinctive mineral character.
Specifications
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Vintage: 2024
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Producer: Domaine Moreau-Naudet
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Country: France
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Region: Burgundy, Chablis
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Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
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Vineyard: Vaillons
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Classification: Premier Cru
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Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
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Wine Style: Dry White Wine
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Vineyard Area: 1.78 hectares
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Vineyard Parcels: Les Epinottes, Roncières and Sécher
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Vine Age: Parcels planted in 1974
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Viticulture: Organic farming practices, hand harvested
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Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts, parcels vinified separately
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Maturation: Extended lees ageing, with stainless steel and seasoned oak used in the domaine's Premier Cru winemaking regime
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Oak: Lightly oaked; approximately 30% used oak under the domaine's typical Premier Cru regime
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Drinking Window: 2026–2032
