Reflecting the influence of its deeper soils, the 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is, as ever, slightly more forthcoming than Séchet. Tangerine, peach and orange peel introduce the wine, preceding a full-bodied, layered and textural palate. Its generous attack is tempered by tangy acids and a chalky grip that keeps everything in sharp focus. Ample and undeniably charming today, its track record suggests that patience will be amply rewarded as it accrues further complexity with age. I would be inclined to open my bottles a decade or more after harvest.
94 points, Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate (Jan 2026)
The Dauvissat family’s 2023 Vaillons is another beautiful example of the vintage. The wine today offers up a complex bouquet of tart orange, pear, a complex base of chalky minerality, citrus peel, beeswax and a discreet touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and wide open on the attack today, with a rock solid core of fruit, great mineral drive and cut, excellent focus and balance and a long, complex and vibrant finish. Fine, fine juice.
93+ points, John Gilman, View From The Cellar (Feb 2026)
The 2023 Vaillons from Dauvissat has a fresh, lemony snap on the initial attack and hints at something more decadent, such as fresh almond and hawthorn flowers. The vibrant acidity on the palate enlivens the wine and drives it to a dynamic finish. The grapes for this bottling are from the lieux-dits Châtains and Beugnons, part of the Vaillons umbrella appellation, on the left bank; Dauvissat explains that the soil here is deeper marl, which he feels gives more concentration. Although the Vaillons bottling is often seen as richer than Séchet (also part of Vaillons), here it loses none of the characteristic Dauvissat finesse.
93 points, Charles Curtis, Decanter (Sep 2024)
A pure lemon yellow. The bouquet offers a little note of honeysuckle, with more mid palate flesh than is typical for a Dauvissat Vaillons, and quite a luxuriant finish.
92 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Jun 2025)
A more elegant nose is comprised by notes of white pepper, mineral reduction and more evident floral nuances along with an array of classic Chablis nuances, especially iodine, petrol and shrimp shell. This is at once slightly bigger but also a bit racier than the Séchet with excellent delineation and minerality that adds a sense of lift to the sneaky long, well-balanced and appealing dry finale. Lovely.
92 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound (Oct 2025)
The 2023 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru was the cuvée that did not quite shine when I tasted it from barrel 12 months earlier. Now in bottle, this still just needs a little more vivacity and tension on the nose. It's outflanked by the Séchets at the moment. The palate is linear, strict and very well balanced with fine mineralité. Overall, this just lacks the bandwidth and complexity of a great Vincent Dauvissat.
90 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jul 2025)
Top Quality Store
