2024 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Les Pargues Vieilles Vignes Chablis | Old Vines 1947

🍷 The Forgotten Premier Cru? | 79-Year-Old Vines, Extraordinary Chablis Terroir & One of Burgundy's Most Exciting Producers!

2024 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Les Pargues Vieilles Vignes Chablis

NEW RELEASE | Old Vines Planted in 1947 | Between Two Famous Premier Cru Vineyards!

Chablis, Burgundy, France

RRP $135

What if I told you there was a remarkable vineyard in Chablis, sitting between two famous Premier Cru vineyards, planted with vines dating back to 1947, producing wines that regularly challenge the quality of much more expensive Premier Cru Chablis?

And what if I told you that vineyard was classified as ordinary village Chablis?

Well, that's exactly what we have here.

2024 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Les Pargues Vieilles Vignes Chablis!

And believe me, this is one extraordinary wine.

This is Chablis with beautiful concentration.

Wonderful texture.

Fresh lime and orchard fruit.

Extraordinary mineral tension.

And a long, mouth-watering saline finish.

But the real excitement lies in the vineyard.

LES PARGUES.

One of the great insider discoveries of Chablis.

A vineyard whose reputation is far greater than its official classification.

And in the hands of Domaine Moreau-Naudet, the results are absolutely fascinating.

This is exactly the sort of Burgundy I love discovering at Liquid Vibe!

Les Pargues – The Chablis Vineyard That Could Have Been a Premier Cru

Here's something most wine lovers wouldn't know.

Les Pargues is a lieu-dit, or named vineyard site, situated on a ridge between the celebrated Premier Cru vineyards of Montmains and Vosgros.

It enjoys a similarly favourable exposure to some of the neighbouring Premier Cru slopes.

And historically, the site enjoyed an excellent reputation.

There's even a long-standing local story that Les Pargues was regarded as Premier Cru-quality land before the modern appellation classifications were established.

The story goes that vineyard abandonment during the First World War contributed to the site losing its former prominence.

Whether that history fully explains its classification is difficult to establish.

But here's what isn't in doubt.

Les Pargues occupies an exceptional position in the Chablis landscape.

And Domaine Moreau-Naudet's old vines produce a wine with the concentration, texture and mineral precision you would normally associate with much more prestigious vineyard classifications.

That's what makes it so exciting.

Vines Planted in 1947 – An Extraordinary Piece of Burgundy History

Now here's where things get particularly interesting.

Domaine Moreau-Naudet farms approximately 1.8 hectares of Les Pargues.

And the vines were planted in 1947.

Think about that.

These vines were planted just two years after the end of the Second World War.

They've survived decades of changing weather, viticultural practices and winemaking fashions.

And they're still producing extraordinary Chardonnay.

At nearly 80 years old in 2026, these vines are a remarkable piece of Burgundy's living history.

But there's another important detail.

The yields are incredibly low.

Typically around 15–25 hectolitres per hectare.

That's a very small crop.

And when mature vines produce such limited quantities of fruit, the resulting wines can have wonderful flavour concentration and structural depth.

The combination of old vines, low yields and an exceptional vineyard position is one of the reasons Les Pargues has such an extraordinary reputation among Chablis enthusiasts.

Domaine Moreau-Naudet – A Different Approach to Chablis

Domaine Moreau-Naudet is one of the most fascinating estates in Chablis.

And much of its modern reputation was established by the late Stéphane Moreau.

Stéphane took over the family vineyards in 1991.

But rather than following the increasingly technological winemaking approaches popular at the time, he developed a philosophy built around traditional methods.

Hand-harvesting.

Low yields.

Natural fermentation.

Patient maturation.

And allowing the vineyard to speak.

He was particularly influenced by the great traditions of Burgundy and the work of producers who believed that exceptional fruit should be handled with restraint.

The result was a distinctive style of Chablis.

Wines with greater texture and depth than many conventional examples.

But also wonderful acidity, mineral precision and a genuine sense of place.

Sadly, Stéphane passed away in 2016.

And his death was a significant loss to the Chablis wine community.

Virginie Moreau – Continuing an Extraordinary Legacy

Following Stéphane's passing, his wife Virginie Moreau took responsibility for the estate.

And she has done an extraordinary job.

Rather than abandoning the philosophy that made the domaine special, Virginie has continued developing its reputation.

The vineyards are farmed with organic methods, although the estate is not formally certified organic.

Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Fermentation relies on indigenous yeasts.

And maturation is deliberately patient.

But Virginie has also adapted the winemaking to changing conditions.

In warmer vintages, she has increasingly favoured stainless steel for some wines to preserve the freshness and precision that define great Chablis.

It's a thoughtful approach.

Respecting tradition.

But never being afraid to make changes when the vineyard or vintage demands them.

And the results have been outstanding.

The 2024 Vintage – A Challenging Year That Rewarded Great Vineyard Work

The 2024 vintage was not an easy one in Chablis.

Spring frost, challenging weather and difficult growing conditions created enormous pressure for growers.

Yields were affected across parts of the region.

And meticulous vineyard work was essential.

But difficult vintages can also produce fascinating wines.

Particularly when the grower has the experience and commitment to select only the best fruit.

At Moreau-Naudet, the emphasis remained on careful farming, fruit selection and patient winemaking.

The resulting 2024 Les Pargues has wonderful freshness, concentration and mineral energy.

It's a beautifully expressive Chablis from a demanding vintage.

Winemaking – 70% Tank, 30% Older Oak

Here's something particularly interesting about the 2024 Les Pargues.

Approximately 70% of the wine was matured in tank, with the remaining 30% raised in older, neutral oak.

And that's an important distinction.

This isn't Chardonnay designed to taste of new oak.

The barrels are used for texture and complexity.

Not to overwhelm the fruit with vanilla or toast.

The fruit is hand-harvested.

Fermentation takes place with natural yeasts.

And the wine benefits from maturation on its lees.

The objective is to create a Chablis with wonderful texture while preserving its citrus purity and mineral precision.

And that's exactly what makes the 2024 so compelling.

Concentration without heaviness.

Texture without excessive oak.

And beautiful natural acidity.

Tasting Notes – Nashi Pear, Lime Peel, White Peach and Extraordinary Salinity

The 2024 Moreau-Naudet Les Pargues is a beautifully detailed wine.

And the aromatics are absolutely gorgeous.

Expect:

• Fresh nashi pear

• Lime peel

• White peach

• Lemon zest

• Subtle orchard blossom

• Crushed stone

• Fine chalky mineral notes

• Gentle savoury complexity

• Delicate reductive flintiness

The palate is wonderfully layered.

There's excellent fruit concentration, with nashi pear and white peach providing beautiful depth.

Fresh lime and citrus bring energy.

A fine, almost chalky texture gives the wine structure.

And then comes that extraordinary Chablis acidity.

Bright. Precise. Mouth-watering.

But what really makes this wine special is the finish.

It's long.

Beautifully persistent.

And distinctly saline.

Almost briny.

That wonderful salty character is one of the most compelling qualities of great Chablis.

Nashi pear. Lime peel. White peach. Crushed stone. Flint. Chalky minerality. Extraordinary salinity.

This is a seriously impressive wine.

What the Critics Are Saying

The 2024 Les Pargues has already attracted attention from Burgundy specialists.

89–91 Points – Kristaps Karklins, The Wine Advocate

The review highlights its nashi pear, lime and peach aromatics, generous but energetic palate, vibrant acidity and long saline finish.

Bill Nanson – Burgundy Report

Nanson was particularly impressed by the wine's aromatic depth, fine detail, mouth-watering structure and remarkably saline finish.

He suggested giving the wine another couple of years to develop further tension.

That's a fascinating recommendation.

Because it demonstrates that this isn't simply a wine for immediate drinking.

It has the structure to reward patience.

Why This Wine Can Challenge Premier Cru Chablis

One of the great misconceptions about Burgundy is that vineyard classification tells you everything about wine quality.

It doesn't.

Classification is enormously important.

But it isn't the whole story.

Vine age.

Yield.

Exposure.

Farming.

Harvest decisions.

And winemaking all matter.

Les Pargues is a perfect example.

The vineyard may carry a village-level Chablis classification.

But it sits in a privileged position between famous Premier Cru sites.

The vines date back to 1947.

Yields are extremely low.

And the fruit is handled by one of Chablis's most respected producers.

That's a combination capable of producing extraordinary wine.

And it's why knowledgeable Burgundy drinkers pay such close attention to vineyards like Les Pargues.

For Lovers of Great Chablis

If you love the great Chablis producers, this wine deserves your attention.

Particularly if you appreciate wines with:

Beautiful citrus purity.

Old-vine concentration.

Fine texture.

Subtle savoury complexity.

Chalky mineral structure.

And extraordinary saline length.

This is not a thin, aggressively acidic Chablis.

Nor is it a heavily oaked Chardonnay.

It's a wine that combines generosity with wonderful precision.

And that's a difficult balance to achieve.

Cellaring Potential

The 2024 Les Pargues is already a beautifully expressive wine.

But its acidity, concentration and old-vine structure suggest excellent potential for further development.

Suggested drinking window: 2027–2035, with careful cellaring.

I'd happily open a bottle young to enjoy its freshness and energy.

But I'd also put some away.

With time, the youthful citrus and orchard fruit should develop deeper nutty, savoury and honeyed complexity.

And that wonderful saline structure should remain central to the wine.

Food Pairings

This is an extraordinary food wine.

I'd recommend:

• Freshly shucked oysters

• Grilled scallops

• King George whiting

• Grilled prawns

• Southern rock lobster

• Roast chicken with lemon

• Seafood risotto

• Comté or aged Gruyère

Personally, I'd love this with freshly shucked oysters or grilled scallops with lemon.

The wine's citrus purity and extraordinary salinity would be absolutely sensational.

Why We Love It at Liquid Vibe

Because this is exactly what makes discovering great Burgundy so exciting.

An exceptional vineyard that doesn't carry the classification you might expect.

Old vines planted in 1947.

Tiny yields.

An extraordinary position between two famous Premier Cru vineyards.

A producer with a fascinating history.

Thoughtful, traditional winemaking.

And a wine with beautiful concentration, texture and mineral precision.

Look at what you're getting.

2024 Domaine Moreau-Naudet Les Pargues Vieilles Vignes Chablis

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Vines Planted in 1947

Approximately 1.8 Hectares

Extremely Low Yields – 15–25 hl/ha

Between Montmains and Vosgros Premier Crus

Winemaker – Virginie Moreau

Natural Yeast Fermentation

70% Tank / 30% Neutral Oak

89–91 Points – The Wine Advocate

NEW RELEASE

RRP $135

This is serious Chablis.

A wine with history.

Pedigree.

Old-vine concentration.

Extraordinary mineral precision.

And a wonderful sense of place.

If you love great white Burgundy, this is a wine you absolutely need to discover.

2024 DOMAINE MOREAU-NAUDET LES PARGUES VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS

CHABLIS, BURGUNDY, FRANCE

NEW RELEASE | RRP $135

VINES PLANTED IN 1947!

BETWEEN TWO FAMOUS PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS!

NASHI PEAR. LIME PEEL. WHITE PEACH. FLINT. CHALKY MINERALITY. EXTRAORDINARY SALINITY.

THE FORGOTTEN PREMIER CRU? ONE OF CHABLIS' GREAT INSIDER DISCOVERIES!