Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
Buy wines from Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
Hardly any other name in Chablis enjoys a reputation comparable to that of Domaine Vincent Dauvissat. Together with Domaine François Raveneau, this family-run estate has been among the very best in the appellation for decades and is regarded as the benchmark for long-lived, terroir-driven Chardonnays. The wines combine exceptional concentration with precision and mineral depth, and are among the most sought-after white wines in the world. The history of the Dauvissat family dates back to the 16th century. They have been cultivating vineyards in Chablis for generations, but it was only under Robert Dauvissat – who was one of the first in Chablis to bottle and sell his own wines – his son René, and later Vincent Dauvissat that the domaine developed into an international icon. Since 2013, Vincent has been running the estate together with his children Ghislain and Etiennette, remaining true to the family’s uncompromising philosophy: great wines are made in the vineyard, not in the cellar. The estate comprises just around 12 hectares, spread across some of the appellation’s most renowned sites. At the heart of the estate are the Grand Crus Les Clos and Les Preuses, as well as Premier Crus such as La Forest, Séchet, Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. The portfolio is complemented by a Chablis Village and a Petit Chablis, which already impressively reflect the estate’s distinctive style. Many of the vines are several decades old and are deeply rooted in the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils, with their fossilised oyster shells, which lend the wines their unmistakable mineral character.
In the cellar, the approach is one of the utmost restraint. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place predominantly with natural yeasts. Maturation occurs traditionally in used French barriques and larger wooden casks, the low proportion of new wood in which deliberately ensures that the influence of the ageing process remains in the background. The aim is not to create woody aromas, but to give the wines time and oxygen to develop slowly. Before bottling, the wines are only lightly filtered, or in some cases not filtered at all.
Stylistically, the Domaine’s wines are among the most classic Chablis of all. In their youth, they often appear closed and characterised by an almost austere minerality. As they mature, aromas of lemon zest, green apple, white peach and pear unfold, complemented by flint, iodine, chalk, hazelnut and subtle notes of brioche. Despite their concentration, they always retain an impressive freshness and precision. The Grand Crus, in particular, have an ageing potential of several decades and, over time, develop a fascinating combination of power, elegance and salty minerality. Annual production volumes are low, which is why these wines are highly sought-after worldwide and regularly fetch record prices at auctions. Nevertheless, Domaine Vincent Dauvissat has always remained true to its traditional methods. Without resorting to fashionable stylistic devices or spectacular cellar techniques, the estate produces Chardonnays that reflect the character of the great Kimmeridge terroirs of Chablis in its purest form. For many wine lovers and critics, the domaine has therefore long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest producers of white wine.
© Images: Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
