2018 Domaine Jean-Paul et Benoit Droin Chablis Grenouilles Grand Cru

Dried lime zest, lemon grass, flint, matchstick and some beeswax on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with crisp acidity and a creamy, smooth texture. Focused and precise with a mineral finish. Drink or hold.

The 2018 Chablis Grenouilles Grand Cru has a pretty nose of perfumed lemon zest, melon and light floral scents, beautifully defined and focused. The palate is very well balanced with a touch of spice on the entry, focused and precise, though it lacks the heft and gravitas of, say, a Les Preuses or Les Clos on the finish. A lovely Grenouilles, for sure, but not the best that Droin oversaw in 2018.

The 2018 Chablis Grenouille Grand Cru is an ample, creamy and super-expressive wine. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers and minty notes all flesh out in a Chablis endowed with striking depth and resonance - all qualities that build into the long, beautifully persistent finish. The Grenouille is one of the bigger Grand Crus in the range, but is also a bit edgy, as wines from this site often are.