Domaine Oudin - Vaucoupins 1er Cru 2023 Chablis 750ml (13% abv)
A powerful, generous, broad expression of 1er Cru Chablis from a warmer site and one of our favorite producers, the Oudin sisters. Rare and small production, we only got a few bottles!
Pale yellow in the glass with shimmering silver highlights. The nose is bright with citrus, brine and flakey limestone notes. The palate shows elegant citrus fruit backed by lovely limestone driven minerality. This is a crisp, elegant wine and it is never austere.
Pruning Method: Double Guyot
Soil: Limestone with southern exposures
Age of vines: 65 years old
Yield: 45hl/ha
Varieties: Chardonnay
lots of cool info on this lesser known 1er Cru:
The uppermost right bank premier cru, situated between Fley and Chichée, and the next valley over from the premier cru Mont de Milieu, this Oudin Vaucoupin is ripe and fresh, subtle with a touch of salt. Lively and powerful, yet controlled enough to allow the minerality and purity to sing.
In the past, the valley of Vaucoupin was probably forested.
In Chablis, Vaucoupin sees life through white-tinted glasses. From a distance, it looks like an ocean of white limestone, blanketed in some places by dry white clay. Tillage is quite challenging due to shallow Kimmeridgian marls, so patience is crucial in taming this vast terroir. Nestled on the right bank of the Serein, in the township of Chichée, Vaucoupin stretches over 45 hectares and is quite discreet: it is only accessible by small roads through the vineyards which keeps it safe from visitors. As one gets closer, Vaucoupin reveals three faces: a delicate gently sloping plateau, steep hills and a valley. Facing south and west, Chablis Premier Cru Vaucoupin is in full sun. Although this warm terroir allows the vine to reach beautiful maturity, it is also demanding, especially in drier years. Yields are generally low due to the draining soils, sun exposure and strong wind. Vaucoupin is a flag-bearer, but like Mont de Milieu or Côte de Léchet, it does not have any secondary Climats.
Vaucoupin has the charisma of all great Chablis: freshness, volume, structure, chalky minerality and  sometimes a slight saltiness. Always a little discreet and moderate in its youth, it reaches its full potential after a few years. Its mineral structure and its compelling acidity help it age for 10 years if not more. Its astonishing youth surprises as much as it delights for years to come.
Two stories intertwine and compete: for some, Vaucoupin could mean ‘vallée coupée’, (cut valley) divided between several different owners. For others, this Climat could also have belonged to the Copin family...
In 1988 Jean-Claude Oudin and his wife, Christiane relocated from the suburbs to Christiane’s father’s two-hectare vineyard located near the tiny village of Chichée, just south of Chablis. They have recently retired from making wine and their daughters Nathalie and Isabelle have taken over the winemaking reins. The Oudin sisters now farm 10 hectares of vines, where most of the vines have a south and southwest exposure and are located on the hilltops which surround the village of Chichée, including two premiers crus.
to allow the wine to develop the minerality and vivacity offered by the native kimmeridgian soils and to express these very specific ‘terroirs’ and weather conditions. The domain does not use oak at any stage of the production.
In its youth, Chablis typically has notes of white flowers and fresh fruits. They can age 5 to 10 years (and up to 15 in some vintages) and will develop secondary aromas and flavors like honey and vanilla before evolving to hazelnut and earthy undergrowth.
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farming/cellar: Certification: organic – in conversion since 2021 (Ocacia). hand harvested. The grapes arrive quickly to the cellar where they are gently pressed with modern equipment to maintain the purity of the juice. Natural fermentation takes place in temp controlled stainless steel tanks, The wine rests on lees in steel tanks for a year or more before it is bottled. The wine is fined with bentonite and lightly filtered. Minimal sulfites are added.
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