It also is one of just a handful of Chablis at ANY level (including Raveneau and Dauvissat Grand Crus!) to earn the top (and very rare) 3-star rating as “exceptional” from the prestigious French Guide Hachette.
They say:
This remarkable Vaugiraut aged in barrels on fine lees reveals an explosive palette on the nose: fennel, green tea, anise, flint, then white flowers.
The palate appears ample, full of candied fruits, creamy, enhanced by spicy notes and refreshed by an aniseed finish.
Finesse combined with power in perfect harmony.
Michel Bettane, France’s leading independent wine writer (especially when it comes to Burgundy), agrees, awarding this his top rating and saying:
Remarkably balanced on the palate, this richly aged Chardonnay impresses with its richness and volume on the palate. It's amazing.
As does the French VertdeVin, in this rather thorough review:
The wine has a pale lemon-yellow color. The nose offers concentration, ripe fruit and complexity. It expresses notes of candied lemon, fresh lemon, pineapple in syrup, juicy yellow peach, ripe apricot, crunchy green apple, as well as spicy notes (vanilla, a fine toasted touch), toasted almond (in the background), white flowers (acacia, honeysuckle) and a chalky and saline mineral touch. On the palate, the wine is fresh, straight and complex. It expresses tangy flavors of green apple, fresh lemon, grapefruit (but without bitterness), crunchy apricot, white peach, as well as fine notes of spices (nutmeg), a floral touch (acacia, apple blossom) and mineral (saline, chalky). The finish is long, salivating, with lively acidity and a very fine bitter touch. Beautiful complexity, precision and freshness.
Decanter also rates it the top Notton wine ever, saying:
Céline and Laurent Notton's Vaugiraut is produced from vines planted in 1935, and it has the aromatic intensity which this left-bank climat is renowned for. Pronounced mineral characters on the palate add to a hint of orange zest, with plenty of acidity giving lots of freshness and vitality to the wine. Drinking well already, this has a fine future ahead.
