Droin has become one of the top stops in Chablis, and the Cuvee Hommage à Louis is an exceptional example of their great continued work. The 2023 Hommage à Louis is a special cuvée that pays tribute to the Droin family's deep roots in Chablis, with winemaking lineage dating back to the early 17th century. Sourced from old vines in select parcels within Grand Cru Les Clos, this wine represents the pinnacle of the estate's work, crafted only in vintages that meet their highest standards. The 2023 vintage in Chablis was characterized by a warm, dry summer, balanced by cool nights, which yielded wines that combined ripeness with vibrant acidity. Fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and oak barrels (typically around 20–25% new), the Hommage à Louis combines depth and elegance with the unmistakable tension of a Grand Cru. It delivers powerful aromas of citrus oil, green apple, crushed stone, and oyster shell, supported by a firm mineral spine and a long, saline finish. This is a benchmark, cellar-worthy Chablis that captures both the gravitas of Les Clos and the precision of one of the region's most respected domaines.
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 95 points! "With the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Hommage à Louis, the Droins have regained the right to designate Les Clos on the label from the INAO, but they're also continuing with the Hommage à Louis moniker. Whatever its name, the wine is lovely, opening in the glass with notes of green apple, peach and lemon mingled with iodine and toasted nuts, followed by a full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate that's deep, dense and muscular."
Jasper Morris 94-97 points! "I believe that the authorities have now confirmed that all of Benoît Droin’s plots are properly within the boundaries of Les Clos, though Benoît will continue to use the Hommage epithet alongside the vineyard name. the 2023 Hommage à Louis has a clear and classic nose after the pale lemon colour. Brilliant balanced juice, the Clos transcends the vintage. All white fruit of course but some crunch to the white apple fruit. Juicy and generous but still with a fine firm classic core. Fabulous finish."
Vinous (Neil Martin) 94 points! "The 2023 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru Hommage à Louis has the best bouquet amongst the Grand Crus from Droin. Very vibrant and intense, with crushed limestone and flint. The palate is well balanced with melon, grapefruit, orange rind and quince on the entry, building nicely towards a slightly oily-textured finish. I can see this aging well in bottle - more complexity on the finish compared to say, the Valmur or Grenouilles."
Burghound 93 points! "Smoke and light wood nuances set off cool floral and spicy aromas of freshly grated citrus, white peach, honeysuckle and tidal pool wisps. There is again fine intensity to the dense and stony broad-shouldered flavors that flash fine length on the ever-so-mildly warm finale where a touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. This refreshing effort is so rich that it should drink reasonably well young but the better choice would be to allow it to age for at least a few years as it could also use more overall depth."
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru Hommage à Louis
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru Hommage à Louis
Droin has become one of the top stops in Chablis, and the Cuvee Hommage à Louis is an exceptional example of their great continued work. The 2023 Hommage à Louis is a special cuvée that pays tribute to the Droin family's deep roots in Chablis, with winemaking lineage dating back to the early 17th century. Sourced from old vines in select parcels within Grand Cru Les Clos, this wine represents the pinnacle of the estate's work, crafted only in vintages that meet their highest standards. The 2023 vintage in Chablis was characterized by a warm, dry summer, balanced by cool nights, which yielded wines that combined ripeness with vibrant acidity. Fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and oak barrels (typically around 20–25% new), the Hommage à Louis combines depth and elegance with the unmistakable tension of a Grand Cru. It delivers powerful aromas of citrus oil, green apple, crushed stone, and oyster shell, supported by a firm mineral spine and a long, saline finish. This is a benchmark, cellar-worthy Chablis that captures both the gravitas of Les Clos and the precision of one of the region's most respected domaines.
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 95 points! "With the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Hommage à Louis, the Droins have regained the right to designate Les Clos on the label from the INAO, but they're also continuing with the Hommage à Louis moniker. Whatever its name, the wine is lovely, opening in the glass with notes of green apple, peach and lemon mingled with iodine and toasted nuts, followed by a full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate that's deep, dense and muscular."
Jasper Morris 94-97 points! "I believe that the authorities have now confirmed that all of Benoît Droin’s plots are properly within the boundaries of Les Clos, though Benoît will continue to use the Hommage epithet alongside the vineyard name. the 2023 Hommage à Louis has a clear and classic nose after the pale lemon colour. Brilliant balanced juice, the Clos transcends the vintage. All white fruit of course but some crunch to the white apple fruit. Juicy and generous but still with a fine firm classic core. Fabulous finish."
Vinous (Neil Martin) 94 points! "The 2023 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru Hommage à Louis has the best bouquet amongst the Grand Crus from Droin. Very vibrant and intense, with crushed limestone and flint. The palate is well balanced with melon, grapefruit, orange rind and quince on the entry, building nicely towards a slightly oily-textured finish. I can see this aging well in bottle - more complexity on the finish compared to say, the Valmur or Grenouilles."
Burghound 93 points! "Smoke and light wood nuances set off cool floral and spicy aromas of freshly grated citrus, white peach, honeysuckle and tidal pool wisps. There is again fine intensity to the dense and stony broad-shouldered flavors that flash fine length on the ever-so-mildly warm finale where a touch of youthful austerity slowly emerges. This refreshing effort is so rich that it should drink reasonably well young but the better choice would be to allow it to age for at least a few years as it could also use more overall depth."
