Domaine Vincent Dauvissat
Overview
Domaine Vincent Dauvissat is one of Chablis’ two benchmark estates (alongside Domaine François Raveneau). Vincent Dauvissat farms biodynamically and uses old Burgundy barrels for fermentation and aging — giving his wines a subtle textural richness without obvious oakiness. The wines are among the most precise, age-worthy expressions of Chablis made anywhere. The domaine produces wines from premier crus Vaillons, La Forest, Séchet, and Montée de Tonnerre, and grand crus Les Preuses and Les Clos. He also makes a Coteaux Bourguignons from 90–95-year-old Gamay vines, and an Irancy Rouge from Pinot Noir.
Appellations
- Chablis (villages, premier cru, grand cru)
- Irancy Rouge (Pinot Noir)
- Coteaux Bourguignons (old-vine Gamay)
Key Wines
- Chablis “les Preuses” (grand cru) — consistently 96–97 points
- Chablis “les Clos” (grand cru) — 97 pts in 2023; none produced in 2024
- Chablis “la Forest” (premier cru) — 94 pts in both 2023 and 2024
- Chablis “Montée de Tonnerre” (premier cru) — 94 pts in 2023
Style Notes
Dauvissat’s wines are barrel-fermented and aged on fine lees, but the oak is seamlessly integrated — they read as mineral and pure rather than oaky. The hallmarks: piercing Chablis acidity, layered limestone minerality, extraordinary aging potential (20–40+ years for grand crus). Biodynamic farming means maximum terroir transparency. Gilman (2026): “the Dauvissat 2024 Les Preuses is a magical wine in the making… Pure magic in a bottle. 2032–2075+. 97.”
2023 Vintage Notes (VFTC #115)
Visited January 20, 2025. Harvest began September 11th, finished September 21st. Heatwave broke with September 12th storm, then perfect picking conditions. All whites bottled before the visit (some before Christmas, premier/grand crus first week of January). 15% new oak for whites. Alcohol levels classic: 12.5–13% for whites. “Stunning wines” — Gilman’s range clearly “amongst the very greatest that I tasted on this trip.” Notable: Aubert de Villaine of DRC joined the tasting. Two reds (Coteaux Bourguignons from 90–95 year old gamay, and Irancy) both excellent.
2023 Scores:
- Chablis “Les Clos”: 97 pts (2033–2075+) — “stunning juice”; great depth, racy acidity
- Chablis “Les Preuses”: 97 pts (2033–2075+) — “breathtakingly beautiful wine!”; kaleidoscopic minerality
- Chablis “La Forest”: 94+ pts (2031–2070) — “dazzling in quality this year!”
- Chablis “Montee de Tonnerre”: 94 pts (2028–2065) — very elegant; chalky minerality
- Chablis “Vaillons”: 93+ pts (2028–2060+) — warmer microclimate than Sechet; stellar
- Chablis “Sechet”: 93 pts (2028–2060+) — “absolutely outstanding”; great precision
- Chablis AC: 92 pts (2025–2055) — “great juice”; majority from below La Forest
- Irancy Rouge: 91 pts (2033–2065) — noble rusticity; just under 14% alcohol
- Coteaux Bourguignons: 89 pts (2030–2050) — entirely gamay; vines 90–95 years old
- Petit Chablis: 89+ pts (2025–2040+) — “really outstanding Petit Chablis!“
2024 Vintage Notes
Lost 90% of crop — biodynamic farming meant no chemical treatments, and frost/hail/mildew devastated yields. No Petit Chablis, Séchet, Montée de Tonnerre, or Les Clos produced. Vincent opened everything for tasting; all wines had been bottled ~2 weeks before Gilman’s January visit.
Top 2024 scores: Les Preuses 97, La Forest 94, Vaillons 93+. Top 2023 scores: Les Preuses 97, Les Clos 97, La Forest 94, Montée de Tonnerre 94, Séchet 93.
Mature Bottle Notes (VFTC #114)
- 2002 Chablis “les Preuses”: 95 pts (2024–2035+) — “in perfect condition and drinking splendidly at age twenty-two; bright and beautifully complex; lovely framing acids, excellent balance and grip.” Gilman notes the 2002 vintage was excellent in youth but widely plagued by premox; this bottle a “very pleasant surprise.”
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2025 #115.txtsources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2026 #121.pdf(pages 17–19)sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Nov-Dec 2024 #114.txt(page 15)