Vying with Raveneau as the best Chablis in town, Vincent Dauvissat’s wines are always fascinating to taste. Neal Martin - vinous.com
If these are Chablis' greatest wines, they are also the region's most mercurial. They tend to shut down hard a year or two after bottling, and they can sometimes seem fatigued. Yet after ten to 15 years in the cellar, they emerge in all their glory, the expression of site invariably dominating the vagaries of the vintage.
So wrote William Kelley when reviewing Vincent Dauvissat’s 2017s in August 2019. We are delighted to be able to offer a range vintages of Vincent Dauvissat’s three Chablis Premier Cru Séchet, Vaillons and La Forest together with the two Grand Cru Les Preuses and Les Clos, all of which are, or will soon be, entering the magical 10-15 year window described by Kelley. As Neal Martin observes in his quote above too, Dauvissat and Raveneau are widely seen as the two giants of Chablis, with both estates making wines that unerringly express the typicity of a Premier or Grand Cru to a degree that is the envy of winemakers the world over.
In terms of the three Premier Cru offered here, Séchet is a 0.8 hectare sector within the wider Vaillons Premier Cru with soils notably rich in limestone, leading to wines of remarkable tension. Vaillons tends to be slightly broader, more textured and silky. La Forest, meanwhile, is a Dauvissat benchmark, with an astonishing 4.5 hectares owned across eight different parcels, which contribute to a wine of remarkable precision, depth and complexity.
All wines were bought on original release by a long-standing Atlas private client, have been stored professionally since, and are available for immediate delivery.
In terms of the three Premier Cru offered here, Séchet is a 0.8 hectare sector within the wider Vaillons Premier Cru with soils notably rich in limestone, leading to wines of remarkable tension. Vaillons tends to be slightly broader, more textured and silky. La Forest, meanwhile, is a Dauvissat benchmark, with an astonishing 4.5 hectares owned across eight different parcels, which contribute to a wine of remarkable precision, depth and complexity.
All wines were bought on original release by a long-standing Atlas private client, have been stored professionally since, and are available for immediate delivery.
2011 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£1,200 per 12 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2015 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£670 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2017 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£450 per 3 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2012 Chablis 1er cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£775 per 6 bottle case in bond
2 cases available
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£815 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£950 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2017 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£375 per 3 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2011 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£1,600 per 12 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2012 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£790 per 6 bottle case in bond
2 cases available
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£900 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£700 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2017 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£350 per 3 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2011 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Preuses, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£1,200 per 6 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2013 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Clos, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
£750 per 3 bottle case in bond
1 case available
£750 per 3 bottle case in bond
1 case available
2011 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
92 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, August 2013
The 2011 Chablis Sechets emerges from the glass with beautiful scents of lime, oyster shell and grapefruit, all backed up by the richness and pure texture of the year. There is plenty of near and medium-term appeal in the Sechets, a wine that captures the very best qualities of the year. Over the last year, the Sechets has come together beautifully.
2015 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
90 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2021
The 2015 Chablis Séchet 1er Cru is a very pleasant wine, but it did not set my world on fire. A little primal and simplistic on the nose compared to Dauvissat's Premier Cru, it is also just a bit too rich for my liking. The palate is well balanced with an attractive creamy texture, quite sweet and just missing a bit of nervosité on the finish. Thoroughly pleasant, but not memorable. Tasted at Au Fils du Zinc in Chablis. Drink 2021-2030.
2017 Chablis 1er Cru, Séchet, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
92 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 2019
The 2017 Chablis Sechet 1er Cru is soft and open-knit, not to mention incredibly inviting. Dried pear, almond, spice and savory notes all grace this lovely, absolutely charming Chablis. Pretty floral overtones add to its considerable allure. This is one of the wines in this range that will drink best with minimal cellaring. Drink 2022-2032.
2012 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
95+ points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, June 2014
The 2012 Chablis La Forest is one of the most reticent wines in this range. Here it is the wine's phenolic weight and vertical sense of structure that stand out. Lemon oil, ash, smoke and petrol are some of the many nuances that inform a tightly-wound finish that never really opens up. The 2012 Forest is a wine for the patient, but it is shaping up to be a gem.
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
91 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, September 2022
2012 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
95+ points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, June 2014
The 2012 Chablis La Forest is one of the most reticent wines in this range. Here it is the wine's phenolic weight and vertical sense of structure that stand out. Lemon oil, ash, smoke and petrol are some of the many nuances that inform a tightly-wound finish that never really opens up. The 2012 Forest is a wine for the patient, but it is shaping up to be a gem.
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
91 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, September 2022
The 2013 Chablis Fôrets 1er Cru, poured in magnum, is an impressive Chablis, though not one that I would rank amongst Dauvissat's most thrilling. Taut and focused on the nose with faint, shucked oyster shell scents. It's intriguing and develops a light camphor scent over the course of a couple of hours. But did I want that there? The palate is surprisingly intense with citrus peel and orange zest, more exotic than I would have expected with a finish that just falls a little short on mineralité. It's a wonderful Chablis, and this magnum was drinking perfectly now. Tasted at Maison de Colombier in Beaune. Drink 2022-2040.
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
94+ points, Stephen Tanzer, vinous.com, July 2016
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
94+ points, Stephen Tanzer, vinous.com, July 2016
Bright, pale yellow. Lovely perfumed lift to the aromas and flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit and white flowers. Tactile and dense but very closed on the palate, combining a sexy sweetness for the year with powerful salinity and superb depth. Most impressive today on the energetic, slowly mounting, palate-staining finish, which leaves the retronasal passage quivering. Premier cru Chablis from the region's left bank does not get much better than this. Drink 2022-2034.
2017 Chablis 1er Cru, La Forest, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
95 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 2019
The 2017 Chablis La Forest 1er Cru is a standout and one of the wines that brings together so many of the best elements of the Dauvissat house style. A Chablis of marvelous contrasts, the Forest is at once light on its feet and also packed with notable intensity. At the same time, the Forest is mysterious and not ready to show all of its cards yet. There is so much to look forward to. The Forest emerges from eight parcels spread across 3.7 hectares, Dauvissat's largest holding. I imagine the diversity of these micro-parcels goes a long way in giving the wine dimension and complexity. Drink 2022-2037.
2011 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
91 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, August 2013
The 2011 Chablis Vaillons is unusually flashy, ripe and exotic . Peach, lychee, mint and a host of tropical-infused aromas and flavors flesh out in this radiant, deeply resonant Chablis. It will be fascinating to watch the 2011 as it develops over the coming years. The style is decidedly racy.
The 2011 Chablis Vaillons is unusually flashy, ripe and exotic . Peach, lychee, mint and a host of tropical-infused aromas and flavors flesh out in this radiant, deeply resonant Chablis. It will be fascinating to watch the 2011 as it develops over the coming years. The style is decidedly racy.
2012 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
96 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, June 2014
Another breathtaking wine, the 2012 Chablis Vaillons blasts across the palate with stunning depth, resonance and pure voluptuousness. Honey, apricot pit, peach and sweet floral notes meld together in a wine of pure grace. Today, the Vaillons is nearly impossible to miss for its raciness, but should also age very, very well.
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
2013 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
91 points, Stephen Tanzer, vinous.com, June 2015
Aromas of menthol, minerals and wet stone suggest an austere wine. Then rich but backward on the palate, conveying noteworthy sweetness to the complex flavors of pineapple, mirabelle, apricot pit and violet. Finishes with a lightly phenolic edge. Not quite as pure as the 2014 edition but a triumph for its vintage. Drink 2019-2027.
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
2014 Chablis 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
91+ points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, June 2022
The 2014 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru is slightly darker in colour than expected, though not worryingly so. Some reduction on the nose as expected, though a bit does blow away with aeration; attractive melted wax and slightly algae-like notes emerge with time. The palate is quite concentrated, spicy and has fine depth with tangy acidity. Bitter lemon mixed with orange rind on the finish, moderate length, but personally I would allow this another two to three years in bottle. Drink 2025-2042.
2017 Chablis, 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
2017 Chablis, 1er Cru, Vaillons, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
94 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 2019
The 2017 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru is bright, precise and beautifully sculpted. Petrol, graphite and white flowers give the Vaillons an exotic feel that is really beguiling. Pliant and also chiseled, the Vaillons impressed with its alluring beauty and exceptional balance. Although the 2017 is going to need a number of years to be at its very finest, it is also really impressive today. Drink 2022-2037.
2011 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Preuses, Dauvissat-Camus
2011 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Preuses, Dauvissat-Camus
95 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2019
Finally, the 2011 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru from Vincent Dauvissat. It’s a cool customer on the nose, distant and enigmatic, gradually revealing sea spray and crustacean scents, plus a touch of petrichor. The palate is wonderfully poised and harmonious, and more malic than the older vintages at this Chablis dinner, revealing hints of popcorn and sea salt on the engaging finish. This clearly needs another couple of years in bottle. Drink 2022-2045.
2013 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Clos, Domaine Dauvissat-Camus
95 points, Stephen Tanzer, vinous.com, June 2015
Pale yellow. Higher-pitched on the nose than the Preuses, offering strong oyster-shell minerality lifted by lavender and violet nuances. Densely packed, tactile and suave, displaying outstanding energy and inner-mouth citrussy lift. Comes across as less violent than the Preuses, and more perfumed on the palate. Finishes with oustanding length and a magically light touch. Drink 2020-2032.