Notify me
2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
Famille Savary
“Eau de Roche,” wrote an astute and quite early wine writer to describe Chablis…back in 1328! Sounds like people have been pitching Chablis on its rocky minerality for at least 697 years now. Note, though, that in 1328 Europe was in the midst of what’s been called the “Little Ice Age,” so perhaps Chablis tasted like rock and not much else. The year 2023 was anything but an ice age in these parts, and the sun shines through in this Vaillons. It still has the stone for sure, but layered with lemon curd and almonds, and is just a pure joy to sip, as Savary always is.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Chardonnay |
Appellation: | Chablis |
Country: | France |
Region: | Burgundy |
Producer: | Famille Savary |
Winemaker: | Olivier Savary |
Vineyard: | 25 years |
Soil: | Kimmeridgian Limestone |
Aging: | Wine is aged on fine lees |
Farming: | Traditional |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Petit Chablis
France | Burgundy
Lemon zest, star fruit, wet stone, and white flowers all coat the palate in a bonedry, vitalizing, and immensely enjoyable wine.

2023 Chablis
France | Burgundy
Sleek, crisp, light, and luminous, with a steely, saline finish.

2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Vau de Vey”
France | Burgundy
David Lavantureux describes it as “direct and pure, full of energy”—a perfectly steely Chablis for oysters-on-the-half-shell.

2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru “Les Vaucrains”
France | Burgundy
Classic Nuits, the most structured wine in their book, legendary ager.

2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Montée de Tonnerre”
France | Burgundy
A triumphant new addition to our Chablis lineup, showing impressive concentration and that irresistibly marine expression of Chablisien Chardonnay.

2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Hameau de Blagny”
France | Burgundy
Extremely limited quantities, limit four bottles per order.

2022 Bourgogne Rouge
France | Burgundy
Bargain access to one of Burgundy’s established masters, ready to drink tonight.

2023 Chablis 1er Cru “Fourchaume”
France | Burgundy
Dense layers of sea salt and stone are tightly coiled around a small drop of lemon.

2023 Chablis “Hommage”
France | Burgundy
It smells just like the ocean, with a sea-mist freshness to more than satisfy that itch in the back of your throat.

2023 Bourgogne Epineuil
France | Burgundy
Ethereal and bright, with the notes of cherry and earth that get red-Burgundy lovers’ hearts racing.
About The Producer
Famille Savary
The Savarys have earned the recognition for their hard work, and are highly regarded in the appellation. The clay-limestone hillsides of the Kimmeridgian chain are excellent for growing dazzling, complex Chardonnay. However ideal the soil, Olivier brings his own brilliance to the table. The grapes from his vineyards throughout the Chablis appellation are blended into one fabulously complex village wine cuvée. He also bottles an extraordinary premier cru from Fourchaume, as well as a separate cuvée of old-vine fruit in heavy, wax-sealed bottles after élévage in demi-muid. These exquisite wines are quintessential Chablis, with unmistakable aromas of ancient crushed shells and a pronounced, racy mineral structure.
About The Region
Burgundy
In eastern central France, Burgundy is nestled between the wine regions of Champagne to the north, the Jura to the east, the Loire to the west, and the Rhône to the south. This is the terroir par excellence for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The southeast-facing hillside between Dijon in the north and Maranges in the south is known as the Côte d’Or or “golden slope.” The Côte d’Or comprises two main sections, both composed of limestone and clay soils: the Côte de Nuits in the northern sector, and the Côte de Beaune in the south. Both areas produce magnificent whites and reds, although the Côte de Beaune produces more white wine and the Côte de Nuits more red.
Chablis is Burgundy’s northern outpost, known for its flinty and age-worthy Chardonnays planted in Kimmeridgian limestone on an ancient seabed. Vézelay is a smaller area south of Chablis with similar qualities, although the limestone there is not Kimmeridgian.
To the south of the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise extends from Chagny on its northern end, down past Chalon-sur-Saône and encompasses the appellations of Bouzeron in the north, followed by Rully, Mercurey, Givry, and Montagny.
Directly south of the Chalonnaise begins the Côte Mâconnais, which extends south past Mâcon to the hamlets of Fuissé, Vinzelles, Chaintré, and Saint-Véran. The Mâconnais is prime Chardonnay country and contains an incredible diversity of soils.
More from Burgundy or France
2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Hameau de Blagny”
Comtesse de Chérisey France | Burgundy
2018 Mazoyères Chambertin Grand Cru
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2018 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2018 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru “Les Pruliers”
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru “Les Vaucrains”
Domaine Robert Chevillon France | Burgundy
2022 Fixin
René Bouvier France | Burgundy
2017 Meursault “Bois de Blagny”
Comtesse de Chérisey France | Burgundy
2022 Volnay 1er Cru “Les Brouillards”
Domaine Lucien Boillot et Fils France | Burgundy
2023 Chablis “Hommage”
Famille Savary France | Burgundy
2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Robert Chevillon France | Burgundy
2023 Petit Chablis “Les Grenouillères”
Roland Lavantureux France | Burgundy
2022 Marsannay Blanc “Clos du Roy”
René Bouvier France | Burgundy
2013 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Hameau de Blagny”
Comtesse de Chérisey France | Burgundy
2018 Mazoyères Chambertin Grand Cru
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2018 Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2018 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru “Les Pruliers”
Domaine Taupenot-Merme France | Burgundy
2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru “Les Vaucrains”
Domaine Robert Chevillon France | Burgundy
2022 Fixin
René Bouvier France | Burgundy
2017 Meursault “Bois de Blagny”
Comtesse de Chérisey France | Burgundy
2022 Volnay 1er Cru “Les Brouillards”
Domaine Lucien Boillot et Fils France | Burgundy
2023 Chablis “Hommage”
Famille Savary France | Burgundy
2022 Nuits-Saint-Georges “Vieilles Vignes”
Domaine Robert Chevillon France | Burgundy
2023 Petit Chablis “Les Grenouillères”
Roland Lavantureux France | Burgundy
2022 Marsannay Blanc “Clos du Roy”
René Bouvier France | Burgundy
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.