A precise, unoaked Premier Cru Chablis focused on the mineral and citrus character of the Vaillons vineyard.
The 2022 Neutre Vaillons is made entirely from Chardonnay and matured without oak, keeping the fruit, acidity, and limestone-derived character of the site at the forefront.
Lemon, green apple and white peach are accompanied by white flowers, chalk and a subtle saline note. The palate is concentrated but remains fresh and controlled.
Region: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Premier Cru: Vaillons
Vintage: 2022
Producer: La Chablisienne
Cuvée: Neutre
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Soils: Kimmeridgian Limestone & Marl
Vinification: Stainless Steel
Aging: Stainless Steel, No Oak
Style: Dry White Wine
The term “Neutre” refers to the deliberately neutral approach to élevage.
Rather than using oak to add texture, spice or toast, La Chablisienne keeps the wine in stainless steel, placing the emphasis on Chardonnay and the character of Vaillons itself.
Nose:
Lemon, green apple and white peach, with white flowers and a restrained mineral character.
Palate:
Fresh and relatively concentrated, with citrus and orchard fruit supported by firm acidity. Chalk, limestone, and subtle saline notes become more evident through the mid-palate.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, with good concentration and a clean acid profile. The absence of oak gives the wine a direct, linear character.
Finish:
Persistent and dry, with citrus, chalk, and saline notes.
Vaillons is one of the established Premier Cru vineyards on the left bank of the Serein, southwest of the town of Chablis.
Its predominantly Kimmeridgian limestone and marl soils produce Chardonnay with ripe fruit, freshness, and mineral definition.
La Chablisienne’s Neutre bottling takes a deliberately restrained approach to winemaking.
By avoiding oak and relying on stainless steel for both fermentation and maturation, the wine places greater emphasis on the natural fruit, acidity and mineral character of the vineyard.
The result is a relatively pure expression of Premier Cru Chablis: citrus-driven, dry, mineral and saline, with sufficient concentration to distinguish it from village-level Chablis.
2022 was a warm and generous vintage in Chablis, following the very small and cooler 2021 harvest.
Warm, dry conditions allowed Chardonnay to reach good maturity while the limestone soils and careful harvest timing helped preserve acidity.
The resulting wines generally combine ripe fruit with good concentration and sufficient freshness.
In the Neutre Vaillons, this gives slightly broader fruit than in a cooler vintage, while the absence of oak keeps the wine focused and precise.
Drink: Now–2032
Preferred Window: 2026–2030
The 2022 is ready to drink now, particularly for those who prefer Chablis with youthful citrus fruit, freshness and mineral definition.
Another two to four years in the bottle should allow the acidity and fruit to integrate further while introducing more developed notes of lemon curd, almond, dried flowers and oyster shell.
No need to wait for the wine, but well-stored bottles should develop comfortably through the end of the decade and into the early 2030s.
Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
Allow approximately 15–20 minutes in the glass rather than serving directly from an ice bucket.
The absence of oak and the wine’s mineral-saline profile make it particularly suitable for seafood.
Recommended Pairings:
Oysters · Caviar · Scallops · Langoustines · Lobster · Crab · Dover Sole · Turbot · Sea Bass · Sushi · Ceviche · Goat Cheese · Roast Chicken
Pair with oysters, scallops, or simply prepared Dover sole.
The combination of citrus, acidity and saline minerality works naturally with shellfish, while the additional concentration of Premier Cru Vaillons allows the wine to accompany richer seafood such as lobster or langoustines.
For guests who prefer Chablis without noticeable oak influence, Neutre is particularly useful: it offers Premier Cru concentration while retaining a clean, direct, and distinctly mineral style.
