Eleni & Édouard Vocoret 'Châtains' Chablis Premier Cru 2023
Édouard and Eleni first met during the 2010 harvest in New Zealand. Not long after, they married and returned to Chablis to take over a small piece of Edouard's family domaine (Domaine Vocoret & Fils) and establish their own project in 2013. With just 3.3 hectares to start, their vision was clear: a more artisanal, sustainable approach, focused on farming. Making single-site wines that highlight the individuality of each plot through the same thoughtful, minimalist winemaking. Their small holdings allowed them to know every vine by heart, and together they brought a passion and energy that marked a new generation in Chablis.
In 2023, Édouard inherited an additional 5 hectares of impressive real estate —including Butteaux and new 1er crus Forêts, Séchet, Châtaigne, and Montée de Tonnerre, along with the Grands Crus Blanchots, Valmur, and Les Clos—bringing the domaine to roughly 10 hectares. This expansion gives them the chance to deepen their terroir-driven approach while entrusting some village parcels to younger growers. With a solid foundation and an exciting future ahead, Édouard and Eleni continue to carve their own distinct path in Chablis.
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Chardonnay |
| Appellation | Châtains |
| Alcohol | 12.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| State of Origin | N/A |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
Note: from a .81 ha holding. A lovely and airy nose features notes of mineral reduction, acacia and plenty of Chablis typicity and in particular, iodine and petrol. There is a fine sense of underlying tension to the delineated and utterly delicious middle weight flavors that also possess excellent depth and persistence on the markedly dry but not especially austere finale. This is a Châtains of finesse that should drink well young but age well too over the mid-term.*Burghound Outstanding! - Burghound, 90-93 pts
A climat within Vaillons, bordering Roncières and Beugnons, the 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Les Chatains derives from a single plot of 0.8 hectares planted in the 1960s in clay-limestone soils. Wafting from the glass with an expressive bouquet of beeswax, crisp yellow orchard fruit and white peach, it’s somewhat more ample and succulent than Séchet, and Edouard confirms it’s one of the first sites they harvest. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, enveloping and expansive, with tangy acidity and fine depth at the core. Vocoret admits it may take a few years for the site to realize its full potential, as it has only recently been farmed with the organic practices the young couple now employ. - Wine Advocate, 90-92 pts
At the end of the valley in Vaillons, this steep and sunny parcel was planted in 1971 with cuttings from Édouard’s grandfather. Producing small berries of great concentration, it sits directly beside Dauvissat’s holdings, delivering intensity and depth within a compact frame.
Vocoret works organically but for the moment, not certified. Eleni and Édouard do everything themselves by hand and know their plots by heart. They started applying biodynamic principles and planting fruit trees to increase the biodiversity.
