Vincent Dauvissat - Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 2023

Domaine Vincent Dauvissat is arguably the finest Domaine in Chablis. Established in the 1970s by Robert Dauvissat, the Domaine has passed down from father to son for three generations. Robert’s son René is to thank for establishing the reputation of the Domaine. Vincent began working with his father, René, in the 1970s and today runs the Domaine. A loyal following among France’s most esteemed restaurateurs sharply limits the availability of Dauvissat wines for export. Despite limited quantities, the wines have attracted the praise and attention of critics worldwide.

Vincent Dauvissat farms nearly 30 acres of meticulously kept vineyards, following sustainable, organic and biodynamic methods. These vines (4.5 acres of Vaillons, 2 of Séchets, and 9.4 of Fôrets among the Premiers Crus; 2.5 of Preuses and 4.5 of Les Clos among the Grands Crus) are splendidly situated on hillsides underlain by Jurassic limestone. Yields are limited to about 50 hectoliters per hectare (3.7 tons per acre), modest by the standards of the region.

Vinification at the domaine is painstaking and traditional at a time when many growers in Chablis have adopted methods permitting increased yields producing simple wines that reach maturity quickly. Vincent Dauvissat, on the other hand, gives all his wines at least a year in Nevers oak, a portion of which is new each vintage. This practice, imposed on top-quality grapes slowly and carefully fermented, results in wines that are deep, complex, and long-lived. They are clearly characteristic of their respective cru, exhibiting the steely bite so typical of Chablis, but with a purity, intensity of flavor, and structural soundness increasingly rare in the region’s wines.

"Reflecting the influence of its deeper soils, the 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is, as ever, slightly more forthcoming than Séchet. Tangerine, peach and orange peel introduce the wine, preceding a full-bodied, layered and textural palate. Its generous attack is tempered by tangy acids and a chalky grip that keeps everything in sharp focus. Ample and undeniably charming today, its track record suggests that patience will be amply rewarded as it accrues further complexity with age. I would be inclined to open my bottles a decade or more after harvest." - 94 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Domaine Vincent Dauvissat

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Chablis 1er Cru

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml