Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

The name of this Climat of Chablis Premier Cru comes from the Latin word vallis. Vaillons means "little valley".

Vaillons and its neighbors cover a total of 129 hectares, making it one of the largest flag-bearing Climats in the Chablis Premier Cru appellation, with eight Climats under its banner. Les Lys, Sécher, Vaillons, Chatains and Beugnons are on the upper part of the hill, while Les Epinottes, Roncières and Mélinots are on the lower part. Because of its south and east exposure, Vaillons mostly enjoys morning sun. Its shallow soil lets the grapes ripen quickly. The subsoil displays a high concentration of Kimmeridgian limestone with some very compact slabs in some places.

Chablis 1er Cru Chatains

This Climat of Chablis Premier Cru has brown earth reminiscent of the color of chestnuts.

Vaillons is the flag-bearing Climat of Chablis that encompasses the most secondary Climats. Nestled in the upper strip of this group of vineyards, Chatains sits on either side of the Climat of Vaillons, remaining one entity only due to a narrow strip at the top, as if it holds Vaillons in its embrace! Located at the top of the hill, it benefits from the same south and east exposure. While getting mainly morning sun, its shallow soil gives the grapes an outstanding terroir where maturity comes fast. In some areas, the large quantities of Kimmeridgian limestone in the subsoil are covered with sticky clays. 

Chablis 1er Cru Beugnons

Uprooted tree trunk or spring? Two explanations compete to provide the origin of the name of this Climat of Chablis Premier Cru.

Perched on the left bank, all the way to the top of its flag-bearing Climat Vaillons, Beugnons calls the shots! The grape harvest usually begins here... Its moderate slope and strong south and east exposure make Beugnons a hot and precocious terroir. The subsoil and Kimmeridgian marls are true to the character of Chablis. They are covered by some thin clays that can get quite sticky in rainy periods, with a lot of limestone scree, causing significant water stress.

Chablis 1er Cru Mélinots

The name of this Climat likely stems from the name of ancient families called Mélin or Méline. 

In 1978, Mélinots was added to the area covered by the flag-bearing Climat Vaillons. Lying quite a distance from the Serein, it sits discreetly at the bottom of the slopes with a nice south and east exposure and a typical Chablis soil. The Kimmeridgian marls and their small fossilized oysters — the famous Exogyra virgula — are plentiful here. In terms of soil, sticky clays can make the terrain difficult to work in wet weather.

Chablis 1er Cru Roncières

The name of this Climat is no mystery: it comes from the brambles that preceded the vines.

Sitting on the left bank, Roncières belongs to the group encompassed by the flag-bearing Climat Vaillons. Located on the lower part of the hill, it delicately runs along the Valvan valley, as an extension of Les Epinottes. Because of a south and east exposure, it benefits from the first rays of the sun. Like its neighbors, its subsoil displays some large Kimmeridgian marls. Its distinctive feature? The clay on the surface becomes sticky after the rain.

Chablis 1er Cru Sécher

From the Latin word secabilis (able to be cut), Sécher was likely a wooded hill that was cleared and divided.

At first glance, Sécher almost seems to be one and the same as its flag-bearing Climat Vaillons. Situated on the left bank of the Serein, it benefits from extending the same east and southeast exposure. The morning sunlight and natural ventilation let the grapes ripen slowly but surely. In terms of soil, the Kimmeridgian marls are fewer here and are replaced by white clays. This poor and shallow soil has the advantage of being very well drained.

Chablis 1er Cru Les Epinottes

Whether brambles, thorns or hedgehogs – either way, the name of this Climat of Chablis Premier Cru is most intriguing!

Located on the left bank, the flag-bearing Climat Vaillons encompasses eight Climats, one of these being Les Epinottes. Nestled on the outskirts of the village of Chablis, in the Serein valley, it stretches over the lower slopes of the Valvan valley. Because of a south and east exposure, it mostly gets morning sun. Kimmeridgian marls are predominant, and the soil is mainly clay. The latter can make things quite challenging for winegrowers, especially when they become sticky after the rain!

Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys

The explanation behind the name of this Climat of Chablis Premier Cru is the Latin word licium (border).

The flag-bearing Climat Vaillons encompasses eight Climats on the left bank, including the Lys, even though the latter seems to want to stand apart. With a north and northeast exposure, it is nestled just behind a hill, proudly perched on a promontory. It is open to the wind and benefits greatly from the morning sun at the coolest hours of the day. These natural assets provide Les Lys with a particularly healthy terroir where grapes mature slowly. The soil consists of sticky, only slightly stony clays that sit on a marly subsoil typical of the Kimmeridgian.