Domaine Alain et Cyril Gautheron Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2024 is a white Burgundy from old Chardonnay vines in the heart of Chablis, made from 60–70-year-old plants on Kimmeridgian soil. It is a crisp, mineral and saline wine—taut and precise in youth, with the structure and tension to develop gracefully over the next five to eight years.
Critic tasting note: (2024 vintage)
"Stone fruit, green citrus and orchard fruit on the nose. Good intensity, with crispness, saltiness and a minerally, linear finish. Aged one-third in old barrels. Drink now." - James Suckling
Technical Details
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Producer: Domaine Alain et Cyril Gautheron, Fleys, Chablis, Burgundy, France
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Wine: Chablis Vieilles Vignes
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Vintage: 2024
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Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
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Vineyard: Old vines on the estate, 60–70 years old
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Soil: Kimmeridgian limestone and chalk
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Farming: Conventional, with three hectares certified organic since 2009 and HVE Level 3 certification since 2020
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Harvest: Hand-harvested
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Fermentation: Native yeasts in stainless steel tanks
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Ageing: 12 months, two-thirds in stainless steel and one-third in oak barrels
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Bottle size: 750 ml
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Alcohol: 12.5%
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Bottle count: Approximately 6,000 bottles produced
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Critic scores: 92/100 — Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy; 91/100 — James Suckling
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Drinking window: 2028–2033 per Jasper Morris; 5–8 years per the domaine
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Serving temperature: 12°C
The Producer
Domaine Alain et Cyril Gautheron is a seven-generation family estate based in Fleys, in the heart of Chablis. Cyril Gautheron, supported by his father Alain, is making some of the appellation’s finest wines in a crisp, cool, classically Chablis style.
The domaine farms 25 hectares of vineyards, with three hectares certified organic since 2009 and the rest certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3 since 2020. The Vieilles Vignes is made from some of the oldest vines on the property, giving the wine its depth, concentration and mineral complexity.
Vineyard and Terroir
The Vieilles Vignes is made from 60–70-year-old Chardonnay vines grown on Kimmeridgian soil, the same limestone-rich terroir that defines great Chablis. The soils are predominantly limestone and chalk, perfect for the Chardonnay grape, the only variety allowed in Chablis.
Jasper Morris MW describes the wine as fuller-bodied than the estate’s Emeraude bottling, with the same flavour profile and a sense of classical Chablis coquillage at the finish. The old vines deliver extra concentration and body, while the Kimmeridgian soils provide the wine’s hallmark saline minerality.
The 2024 Vintage
The 2024 Chablis growing season was exceptionally challenging, with heavy rainfall, cool temperatures and widespread mildew pressure. Frost, hail and disease pressure made the growing season particularly difficult, and yields fell dramatically in the worst-affected parcels.
Despite these difficulties, careful fruit selection and meticulous vineyard work allowed Cyril Gautheron to retain the freshness, aromatic definition and fine tannic structure that define the vintage. The resulting whites are steely, dry and full of tension and elegance, providing a beautiful showcase for Cyril’s skills and the subtleties of Chablis terroir.
Winemaking and Ageing
The Chardonnay is hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for 12 months, with two-thirds in stainless steel and one-third in oak barrels, providing additional roundness and a gentle hint of oak.
This approach allows the fruit purity and mineral essence of the old vines to shine, while the oak adds a subtle vanilla note that rounds out the minerality without obscuring it. The result is a Chablis that is both classical and complex.
Tasting Profile
The 2024 Vieilles Vignes opens with stone fruit, green citrus and orchard fruit on the nose, with good intensity, crispness, saltiness and a minerally, linear finish. Jasper Morris describes a mid lemon-yellow colour, fuller-bodied than the Emeraude but largely with the same flavour profile, and again the sense of classical Chablis coquillage at the finish.
The nose is tender, rich and fresh, with floral notes, lemon, acacia and a subtle vanilla nuance. The palate is well balanced, with a silky mouthfeel, fresh acidity and a long, lingering finish that combines maturity, freshness and generosity.
Aroma and flavour: stone fruit, green citrus, orchard fruit, lemon, acacia, white flowers, vanilla, saline minerality, coquillage and subtle oak.
Palate: medium-bodied, full and concentrated, with crisp acidity, saline minerality, silky texture and a long, linear finish.
Style: a classic, age-worthy Chablis—crisp, cool and classically styled, with the structure and tension to develop over time.
Drinking Window
Jasper Morris assigns a drinking window of 2028–2033, noting that the wine is not yet assembled except for this sample. The domaine itself suggests a drinking window of 5–8 years, making this a wine that will develop gracefully over the medium term.
For current drinking, decanting is recommended. Allow the wine 30–60 minutes in a large white-wine glass to reveal its full aromatic complexity and mineral depth.
Food Pairing
Serve at 12°C with oysters, raw shellfish, sea urchin, langoustines, crab, sushi and sashimi. Its saline finish and citrus precision also make it excellent with grilled fish, white asparagus, poultry in cream sauce, and young or lightly aged goat’s cheese.
The domaine itself suggests pairing it with chicken cooked in wine vapour, ham à la chablisienne, or Mont d’Or with baked potatoes and soft cheeses, allowing the wine’s stony, saline soils to complement the dish.
Collector Note
This is a well-regarded Chablis from a seven-generation family estate, made from some of the oldest vines on the property. The Vieilles Vignes is produced in limited quantities—around 6,000 bottles in 2024—and its old-vine character, Kimmeridgian terroir and balanced elevage make each release distinctive.
The combination of Cyril Gautheron’s reputation, the Kimmeridgian limestone terroir and the freshness of the 2024 vintage makes this a compelling choice for collectors seeking age-worthy, terroir-driven Chablis with long-term development potential.
Recommended serving: open and allow 30–60 minutes in a large white-wine glass before serving at 12°C to reveal its full aromatic complexity and mineral depth.
