Caves Jean et Sébastien Dauvissat

Sébastien Dauvissat is the most recent in an extended line of the Dauvissat family that has been in possession of this notable domaine since 1899.

The cave is positioned under the family house which dates from the 17th century and where the road to the hamlet of Chichée begins.

The first formal bottling of wines under the Dauvissat label occurred on a limited scale in 1963. Then, in 1978 and 1979, Sébastien’s father Jean Dauvissat increased production to 3,000 bottles per annum. The physical expansion of the domaine under his management, along with ever-increasing quality and accompanying renown, has resulted in the cessation of sales to negotiants and the bottling of the entire annual production of approximately 50,000 bottles.

Sébastien Dauvissat continues the work of this historic domaine in collaboration with Evelyne Dauvissat, Jean’s wife and Jacques Lascar.

The domaine encompasses over 11 hectares of vineyards. The Grand Cru vineyards are south-facing. The 1er Cru vineyards have a full southeast exposure and the village vineyards face northwest. All are hillside sites with an “argilo-calcaire” soil composition heavily marked by small stones that provide for excellent drainage. Of course, the entire vineyard surface is underlain by the Kimmeridgian limestone that makes Chablis one of the most unique wine-producing areas in the world.

Harvest levels vary extensively according to age of vines and vintage conditions. Levels for the village wine may reach 60 hectolitres per hectare in particularly generous years whereas the 1er Cru vineyards usually yield approximately 45 to 50 hectolitres per hectare. However, the old vines section of Vaillons (composed in large part of vineyards in excess of 65 years of age) frequently yields less than 25 hectolitres per hectare. The other vineyards are planted with vines between 20 and 40 years of age.

The cellars of the Dauvissat domaine are equipped with the most modern materials. Fermentation and élevage of the village and premier cru wines occurs for the most part in stainless steel. The old vines cuvée of Vaillons and the Les Preuses are partially barrel fermented and barrel aged with about 25% of the oak being new. The wines are traditionally bottled 18 to 20 months after harvest. On occasion, certain of the other 1er Crus may pass part of the élevage in barrel as well, particularly when harvest levels are low.

THE DAUVISSAT RANGE

Chablis Saint Pierre

Sebastien Dauvissat works a two hectare parcel of vines at the village level. The vineyards are situated on the “back side” of the 1er Crus. The soil here is infused with a particularly high percentage of limestone which permits this cuvée to make a clear statement of its origins.

Chablis 1er Cru Montmains

The “Montmains” site is an extension of the 1er Cru “Les Forets” towards the northeast of the 1er Cru slope. In this instance, the soil has a higher percentage of clay in the mix which produces a more full-bodied wine, strict and structured, marked by earthier notes to the nose and on the palate. The Dauvissats own about one and one-quarter hectares of vineyards within “Montmains”.

Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons – Vieilles Vignes

This special cuvée is sourced from a parcel of about .70 hectare that is planted with vines of at least fifty years of age (and some in excess of sixty-five years). In our opinion, the quality and expansiveness of this wine frequently elevates it to Grand Cru level. There is remarkable concentration and length and an impeccable expression of the grand terroir of Chablis.

Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

The Dauvissat holdings are slightly in excess of 4 hectares with seven-tenths of a hectare being devoted to the old vines planting. The “Vaillons” vineyard lies in the center of the large 1er Cru hillside on the southwestern side of Chablis. The vines are on a steep slope and have a south-southeast exposition. Amongst the 1er Crus at the Dauvissat domaine, the “Vaillons” is perhaps the most typical “Chablisien” with its clear reference to the Kimmeridgian subsoils … an intensely mineral wine.

Chablis 1er Cru Séchet

The Dauvissat holdings in “Séchet” are approximately one and one-quarter hectares in expanse. This 1er Cru sits in the centre of the 1er Cru slope on well-drained limestone soil that consistently produce the most elegant of the 1er Crus at this estate. The superb site enables more reliable ripening of the grapes. The “Séchet” produced by Sébastien Dauvissat is the most floral and fine of his series of 1er Crus.

Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses

The Dauvissat holdings in “Les Preuses” equal three-quarters of a hectare. The vineyard sits near the high point of the hillside on the right bank of the Serein river that courses by the village of Chablis and in close proximity to the neighboring Grand Cru of “Bougros”. The “Les Preuses” produced by Sébastien Dauvissat is always generous with an ebullient bouquet that, in very ripe vintages, has a tendency to “muscat”, that is to say it adds a layer of exotic, ripe fruit to its bouquet.

For more information visit: JEAN & SÉBASTIEN DAUVISSAT