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With a budget of $75-$200 these days, a bottle of Premier Cru Chablis is not hard to locate.

If you go under $50, good luck, except for THIS little gem on a Midsummer Marathon!

Vaillons, nonetheless, is right in the heart of the band of Premier Crus, on the other side of the village from the Grand Crus. From a master such as Raveneau, you’d be looking at the $ 400-500 for this choice vineyard. Go under the radar, and $44 is a rare possibility.

Speaking of Raveneau, some research into the Bachelier family reveals some fascinating connections. According to Kermit Lynch, for instance, “in Maligny, a village well-poised between Paris and Dijon, just north of Chablis, Olivier Savary and his wife, Francine, have been vignerons since 1984… Emboldened by their years of combined experience and family history of winemaking, Francine and Olivier finally found their wings and began bottling under their own label. In 1990, Olivier’s longtime friend and Chablis legend Jean-Marie Raveneau introduced Olivier to Kermit. Today, Francine and Olivier are joined by their sons, Maxime and Mathieu…”

According to another master, Vincent Dauvissat, “Vaillons stands as one of the most significant and expansive Premier Cru vineyards in Chablis… The etymology of the name ‘Vaillons’ is believed to derive from the old French ‘vallons,’ meaning small valleys, referring to the undulating topography that characterizes this vineyard area consistently producing wines that beautifully express the quintessential character of Chablis Premier Cru.”

Granted, there is no press on this wine, and not much press on the Domaine altogether. Yet with strong ties to an elite realm of winemaking within an already tiny appellation, this Premier Cru at $45 will make your palate sing with joy without breaking the bank.

You’re welcome and enjoy!