Dauvissat
One of the most prestigious producers of Chablis, they own some of the oldest and best vineyards, including prized sections of grand crus. For them terroir is everything and the process is as natural as possible. This produces intensely flavoured wines full of personality that are almost peerless.
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(6x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (93-96)
A brilliant wine in the making, Dauvissat's 2022 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest unfurls in the glass with youthfully reductive scents of citrus oil, crisp stone fruit, white flowers, oyster shell and subtle hints of orange blossom. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with superb depth at the core and an electric finish, this cuvée has navigated the vintage's extremes with ease.$1,300.00 -
(12x75cl) 2023Wine Advocate (96)
The 2023 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest is nothing short of superb in bottle and ranks among the year's most authoritative wines. A pure, marine-inflected opening—iodine, lemon peel and oyster liquor mingled with beeswax and dried apricot—precedes a concentrated yet tensile palate of taut muscularity. Bright acidity and abundant chalky extract lend the wine a bracing, kinetic edge, culminating in an intensely saline, persistent finish. Dauvissat here once again affirms its status as one of the site's greatest interpreters.$2,079 - $2,495
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$3,960.00 -
Burghound (93)
(from a .30 ha parcel in Côte de Bréchain). Here the airy and expressive nose is even more floral in character with its notes of acacia, rose petal and even a suggestion of gardenia on the aromas of ocean breeze, wet stone and shellfish. The more refined and highly energetic if less concentrated medium-bodied flavors tighten up noticeably on the focused, moderately austere and overtly stony finale. This seductive yet serious effort is going to require at least a few years of patience and should repay up to a decade of keeping if you wish to see it at its probable peak.$3,355.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
A bottling that regularly excels chez Dauvissat, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet opens in the glass with delicate aromas of citrus peel, grapefruit, crisp green apples and white flowers, with only subtle hints of the oyster shell to come. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, with a deep and tight-knit core, striking tension and a searingly mineral finish. Séchet—where Dauvissat owns a 0.8-hectare parcel—is located in the Vaillons Valley, but its windier situation and soils richer in active limestone mean it's typically much chalkier and more tensile than the other climats that make up Vaillons.$2,510.00 -
Vinous (90-92)
The 2018 Chablis Sechet 1er Cru is creamy, open-knit and wonderfully inviting. Soft contours and expressive aromatics give the wine much of its early accessibility; I imagine it will drink well with just a few years in bottle, although it should age gracefully for a number of years as well. Dried flowers, ginger and spice add attractive touches of complexity on the finish.$831.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru is very pure on the nose, though not quite as mineral-driven as the 2019, that I tasted last year (also from barrel). But the aromatics are very elegant. Ditto the palate, which delivers fine acidity, impressive concentration, white peach and dried mango flavors and plenty of spice toward the finish. Excellent.$177.00 -
Vinous (91-93)
The 2020 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru is very pure on the nose, though not quite as mineral-driven as the 2019, that I tasted last year (also from barrel). But the aromatics are very elegant. Ditto the palate, which delivers fine acidity, impressive concentration, white peach and dried mango flavors and plenty of spice toward the finish. Excellent.$601.00 -
Vinous (89-91)
The 2021 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru has a more backward bouquet compared to Dauvissat's other cuvées, ergo it demands a lot of encouragement from the glass. It doesn't quite slip out of second gear. The palate is more promising with fine concentration, good depth and spicier than usual; although, it just needs a little more mineralité to develop on the finish.$165.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Vinous (89-91)
The 2021 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru has a more backward bouquet compared to Dauvissat's other cuvées, ergo it demands a lot of encouragement from the glass. It doesn't quite slip out of second gear. The palate is more promising with fine concentration, good depth and spicier than usual; although, it just needs a little more mineralité to develop on the finish.$1,120.00 -
(1x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (92-94)
The 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp stone fruits, ripe lemons, white flowers, clear honey and subtle hints of warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, cool and satiny, the vintage has lent this a gracious charm that isn't always typical of young Séchet, but the wine's searingly mineral signature remains front and center.$157.00 -
Wine Advocate (92-94)
The 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp stone fruits, ripe lemons, white flowers, clear honey and subtle hints of warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, cool and satiny, the vintage has lent this a gracious charm that isn't always typical of young Séchet, but the wine's searingly mineral signature remains front and center.$939.00 -
(12x75cl) 2023Wine Advocate (95)
The 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet, from the stony core of the Vaillons climat, is particularly impressive from bottle. Cool-toned aromas—lemon oil, spring blossoms and oyster juice—set the stage for a wine built around tension. Medium- to full-bodied, taut and precise, it delivers striking concentration and a crystalline, incisive core that culminates in a saline, bone-dry finish. Racy and oceanic, with deep reserves, this stands among the highlights of the domaine’s premier cru range this year.$1,949 - $2,339
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(1x75cl) 2020Wine Advocate (94)
As is almost invariably the case, Dauvissat's 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is sensual and perfumed, wafting from the glass with aromas of orange oil, peach, jasmine and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it's vibrant and fleshy, with an ample core of fruit, racy acids and a long, saline finish.$191.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020Wine Advocate (94)
As is almost invariably the case, Dauvissat's 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is sensual and perfumed, wafting from the glass with aromas of orange oil, peach, jasmine and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it's vibrant and fleshy, with an ample core of fruit, racy acids and a long, saline finish.$1,655.00 -
Jancis Robinson (16.5+)
Pale-mid lemon. Markedly purer fruit, or at least less mature and ripe than the Sécher. Fine, driving, steely acidity.$257.00 -
Burghound (92)
(from one-third Beugnons and two-thirds Châtains). A markedly more floral-infused nose reveals additional notes of white pepper, tidal pool, iodine and plenty of citrus elements. There is a bit more volume to the beautifully textured medium weight flavors that possess excellent punch while keeping a similar level of refinement on the balanced, focused and lingering finale. This is pretty much textbook Vaillons that is built-to-age.$169.00 -
Burghound (92)
(from one-third Beugnons and two-thirds Châtains). A markedly more floral-infused nose reveals additional notes of white pepper, tidal pool, iodine and plenty of citrus elements. There is a bit more volume to the beautifully textured medium weight flavors that possess excellent punch while keeping a similar level of refinement on the balanced, focused and lingering finale. This is pretty much textbook Vaillons that is built-to-age.$939.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
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.$1,840.00 -
Vinous (89-91)
The 2018 Chablis is very pretty, nuanced and light on its feet, with silky, floral notes of lemon confit and white flowers. Dauvissat's village Chablis is classic and understated. I have seen it blossom with a few years in bottle, which I suspect will be the case here as well.$117.00 -
(12x75cl) 2020Decanter (93)
A fine Chablis which manages to be both powerful and concentrated, yet still retains a lovely lift. Plenty of acidity and distinctive mineral flavours on the palate, along with some spiced, confit lemon character to finish. Will age well.$1,475.00 -
Decanter (93)
A fine Chablis which manages to be both powerful and concentrated, yet still retains a lovely lift. Plenty of acidity and distinctive mineral flavours on the palate, along with some spiced, confit lemon character to finish. Will age well.$122.00 -
Decanter (93)
A fine Chablis which manages to be both powerful and concentrated, yet still retains a lovely lift. Plenty of acidity and distinctive mineral flavours on the palate, along with some spiced, confit lemon character to finish. Will age well.$388.00 -
Vinous (89-91)
The 2021 Chablis Village is a clear step up from the Petit Chablis, beautifully defined with light pressed flower scents that complement the granite scents. The palate is saline on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, fine depth with quite a persistent finish. Elegant and somehow, understated.$123.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Vinous (89-91)
The 2021 Chablis Village is a clear step up from the Petit Chablis, beautifully defined with light pressed flower scents that complement the granite scents. The palate is saline on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, fine depth with quite a persistent finish. Elegant and somehow, understated.$581.00 -
Decanter (94)
Green apple fruit with a touch of bitter pear skin adding bite. Dauvissat has four parcels with the largest opposite the premier cru of Forêts. A great 'straight' Chablis which has a super-fine texture to go along with the ripeness and lingering acidity.$971.00 -
Decanter (94)
Green apple fruit with a touch of bitter pear skin adding bite. Dauvissat has four parcels with the largest opposite the premier cru of Forêts. A great 'straight' Chablis which has a super-fine texture to go along with the ripeness and lingering acidity.$126.00 -
Decanter (94)
Green apple fruit with a touch of bitter pear skin adding bite. Dauvissat has four parcels with the largest opposite the premier cru of Forêts. A great 'straight' Chablis which has a super-fine texture to go along with the ripeness and lingering acidity.$615.00 -
Vinous (93)
Palish straw-yellow color; less bright than some vintages in this tasting. (I've seen published tasting notes on this wine dating back as far as a decade that described it as distinctly golden in color, but not this bottle!) Rather wild aromas of hawthorn, acacia flower, chalk and cedar, plus a hint of truffle; not about fruit. Powerful, large-scaled and penetrating on the palate; densely packed but a bit disjointed owing to its combination of sweetness and bracing acidity. Conveys a rare impression of solidity for Chablis, suggesting that it will live on in bottle for many more years. But will it ever truly be fun to drink? Dauvissat noted that there was not a lot of juice in the press in '96, and the wine is clearly high in dry extract. This wine actually finished its malolactic fermentation after the '97 Clos did, and it was bottled later than that wine. (Dauvissat described this wine as le monstre--a bit special for its combination of huge alcohol, gras and very high acidity; he picked what he described as a normal crop on September 23 with potential alcohol ranging from 12.5% to 14.5% and the wine finished with between 5 and 5.5 grams per liter acidity)$10,740.00 -
Vinous (96)
Pale yellow. Bracing aromas of lemon, ginger, chalk and spices. At once dense and penetrating, with outstanding citric cut to the complex, slightly high-toned flavors of lemon zest, white pepper, minerals and subtle resiny spices. Here, too, the wine's intense chalky character gives it an impression of stronger acidity than the numbers would suggest. Boasts terrific fruit intensity, and the wonderfully precise finish goes on and on. A great showing today, and one of the superstars of the vintage.$1,110.00

