2023 Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis
Just arrived into New Zealand and straight onto our shelves - seriously good Chablis from one of the most highly regarded producers working today. Domaine Bernard Defaix has built a reputation for precise and energetic, organic, low-intervetion wines from some of the Chablis' best sites.
The 2023 vintage sees their village Chablis sourced from four parcels of mature vines (all over 30 years old) located around Milly and Poinchy on the left bank of the Serein River. These sites consistently yield wines with clarity, tension and a fine mineral thread.
A benchmark example of village-level Chablis, and a wine that consistently punches well above its classification.
Tasting Notes
Lemon peel, white peach and soft florals lead on the nose. The palate is brisk yet layered, with ripe citrus, green pear, and signature seashell minerality. Acidity is well integrated, with excellent drive through the palate and a clean, maritime finish. We'd say this sits comfortably on the more classical end of the Chablis spectrum, with plenty of texture and precision to drink now or hold.
Winemaking
Vineyard work is certified organic, with an emphasis on biodiversity and soil health. The fruit for this wine comes from four parcels of old vines on Kimmeridgian soils. Grapes are fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, and the wine spends 10 months on fine lees in glass-lined tanks. No oak is used, allowing the detail of the fruit and the structure from the lees to remain at the forefront.
