2020 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes

Daniel-Etienne Defaix owns one of the oldest estates in Chablis. The Defaix family has been winemakers from father to son for 4 centuries. The family estate is located on the oldest terroirs of Chablis, where monks on Pontigny made a selection a thousand years ago. The privileged exposure of the Pontigny monks was and still is a hill with a high slope facing south-east. An advantage for Chablis, which often suffers from frost in spring, and this privileged spot is the first to receive the sun's rays and therefore much less crop losses. Daniel-Etienne Defaix is the undisputed master of 'long-aged-chablis' There is no rush and they firmly believe that the wines must mature and this also testifies that they only release their Premier Crus after around 8 years but we have drunk performances from 30 years and older and these were even more than fantastic. These long-aged chablis from old years can also be ordered by us on request and of course we also have some of ours in our range. What makes this domain so unique, however, is not only the fact that no wood is used during the production process. The unique fruit of the old vines of the vineyards and time do their job and make all execution gems.

The Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes is a fantastic mineral Chablis. The 2020 didn't become available until 2023. The soil of the old chardonnay vineyard (sticks are 60 years old on average - vieille vignes) lies on a soil of limestone and marl with an exposure to South, Southeast and Southwest. With Daniel-Etienne Defaix everything gets time, so also with his Chablis Vieilles Vignes. The alcoholic fermentation with natural yeast at 18 °C lasts about 3 weeks. Then the wine matures for at least 12 months with monthly stirring of fine lees and the wine remains in the ancient cellars for almost 2 years before being released

The Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes has a deep golden yellow color. In the nose In scent mineral with aromas of lemon, dried herbs, hay and vanilla. Wonderful balance. In the mouth a fresh start, complex, good balance between acidity and oiliness and a long and pleasant aftertaste. The richness and complexity of this Chablis makes this an ideal wine for aperitif, an excellent accompaniment to fish pâtés, oysters, seafood dishes and this Chablis can flirt with a roasted andouillette or the Escargots Burgundy with Chablis and butter parsley