DANIEL-ETIENNE DEFAIX Chablis 1er Cru 'Vaillon' 2016 Bottle
White Still Wine | France | Burgundy | Chablis | 75cl
£44.95
/ £269.70
£256.22 (case)
ABV: 13%
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Sub-Region: Chablis
Grape: Chardonnay
Description
The Defaix family boasts a winemaking heritage in Chablis that spans over four centuries. Today, Daniel Etienne Defaix continues this legacy with a highly traditional and distinctive approach. He is famous for holding his wines in the cellar for many years, releasing them only when he believes they are ready to drink. The Premier Cru Vaillon 2016 perfectly illustrates this unique methodology.
Sourced from old Chardonnay vines planted on the signature Kimmeridgian soils of the region, which are rich in fossilised oyster shells, the grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness. Defaix ferments the wine using indigenous yeasts and avoids oak entirely. Instead, the wine spends an extraordinary amount of time resting on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks, undergoing regular batonnage. This prolonged lees contact naturally protects the wine from oxidation while building incredible textural richness and aromatic complexity.
In the glass, the 2016 Vaillon displays a brilliant golden hue. The bouquet is wonderfully evolved and captivating, offering layers of baked apple, lemon curd and ripe pear, interwoven with distinctive notes of honeycomb, hazelnut and a classic flinty minerality. On the palate, it is exceptionally generous and rounded, showcasing a creamy mouthfeel that is perfectly counterbalanced by a vibrant, driving acidity. Savoury nuances of buttered toast and crushed stones emerge on the mid palate, adding further intrigue. The finish is exceptionally long, precise and deeply satisfying. This is a Chablis that beautifully balances mature complexity with enduring freshness.
A Deeper Dive;
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Domaine Daniel Etienne Defaix is a distinguished family owned estate in Chablis, believed to be the oldest in the appellation with origins traced back to 1610. Now run by the 14th generation of the Defaix family, Daniel Etienne Defaix took over from his father in 1978 and preserved many of the traditional methods handed down through his forebears. The domaine is noted for mature, terroir driven expressions of Chardonnay that retain clarity, minerality and balance.
Vineyards lie across village and Premier Cru sites on classic Kimmeridgian limestone and clay soils. Parcels vary in aspect and soil depth, and vine age ranges from older established vines to more recent plantings introduced during renewal schemes. Viticultural practice focuses on canopy management, yield control and selective hand harvesting to ensure optimal ripeness and natural acidity. Sustainable soil care and attentive vine management support long term health and site expression.
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Winemaking follows a family centred approach that blends tradition with careful modern control. Daniel Etienne preserves a legacy practice of extended ageing in tank combined with monthly batonage, a technique his grandfather and earlier generations used to protect production in difficult years and to ensure consistent stocks for sale. This prolonged lees contact contributes to textural depth and a rounded mouthfeel while preserving the primary citrus and mineral character typical of Chablis. Fermentations are temperature controlled and the domaine uses a considered mix of stainless steel and limited oak for select cuvees, particularly Premier Cru wines, to add complexity without masking freshness.
The wines are typically crisp and precise, showing citrus and stone fruit aromatics, a stony mineral thread and the capacity to age gracefully. Through continuous family stewardship, meticulous vineyard attention and a commitment to ancestral practices, Domaine Daniel Etienne Defaix offers a distinctive range of Chablis that reflects both history and place.