Chablis domaine making Chardonnay village and Premier Cru wines with terroir tailored vinification.
The producer
Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin is a Chablis family domaine with nearly four centuries of vine cultivation behind it. Benoît's cellar philosophy uses minimal new oak, and each wine receives vinification suited to its terroir. The range runs from village Chablis to Premier Cru Vaillons and Montmains. The village wine is Chardonnay made with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel. Montmains brings yellow fruit, apricot, hazel and roast almond, while Vaillons shows white flowers and sea air.
Known for
Chardonnay Chablis by site
Notable facts
The family has cultivated vines in Chablis for nearly 400 years.
Benoît believes the best wines are not made in new oak barrels.
Chablis Premier Cru Montmains is the domaine's richest and deepest Premier Cru.
The 2024 Chablis is 100% Chardonnay fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel.
The story
The Chablis Cellars
In 1965, Jean-Paul started work in the family wine business at age 14. In 1981, he built a first winery, or chai. From 1984 to 1987, Jean-Paul and his wife Catherine bought and rebuilt an ensemble of cellars in the centre of Chablis. Benoît joined the domaine in 1999 after studies at the Wine College in Beaune and a national oenology diploma in Dijon. Jean-Paul and Catherine bought the central cellars before rebuilding them.
From the atlas
Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin
Chablis family domaine with Chardonnay wines that move from village Chablis to Premier Cru bottles shaped by individual site treatment.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Producer
Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin
Place
Chablis
Main grape
Chardonnay
Range
Village Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru wines
The Producer
Benoît joined the domaine in 1999 after studying at the Wine College in Beaune and earning a national oenology diploma in Dijon. He is the 13th generation, and the domaine has 26 hectares of vineyards. The family has cultivated vines in Chablis for nearly 400 years, with vineyard ownership traceable to at least 1620.
Benoît believes the best wines are not made in new oak barrels. Each wine receives vinification treatment suited to its terroir, with cellar decisions adjusted to the individual wine.
Place
Chablis is the appellation named on the village wine, while Premier Cru bottles carry a named vineyard level within the same appellation. Premier Cru identifies a classified vineyard site, narrowing the label from the village name to a more specific place.
Montmains has clay rich ground that brings substantial roundness. It is the domaine's richest and deepest Premier Cru.
Wines
The range includes Chablis Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin, and Chablis Premier Cru Montmains Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin.
The village Chablis is 100% Chardonnay, pressed pneumatically, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and made entirely in stainless steel. The 2024 vintage has green apple, peach, herbs, grilled citrus, and mineral notes. Vaillons is a classical wine with white flowers and sea air. Montmains brings yellow fruits, apricot, hazel, and roast almond, with a concentrated palate.
Final Word
Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin works with Chardonnay in Chablis, from village Chablis to Premier Cru Vaillons and Montmains. Each bottle carries a named appellation level and a distinct wine style.