Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Les Lys 1er Cru 2011
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Les Lys 1er Cru
Region: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Vintage: 2011
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Chardonnay
ABV: 13%
This wine is beautifully round and generous, with great complexity. Integrated notes of buttered brioche meld with Mirabelle plum and ripe apple on the palate.
‘Les Lys’ is at the top of the ‘Vaillons’ Premier Cru and was owned by the French monarchy at one point, hence the name ‘Lys’, given its association with the royal family. ‘Les Lys’ can also be sold as ‘Vaillons’, but Defaix gives this great vineyard an identity in its own right.
Daniel-Etienne Defaix is the 14th generation of the Defaix family to run this estate, which is believed to be the oldest in Chablis and can trace its origins back to 1610. Daniel-Etienne took over from his father in 1978 and started making wine “as (his) grandfather had done”. This involved keeping the wine in tank for lengthy periods and putting it through a monthly bâtonnage, a practice he still retains. “My grandfather’s generation used to keep the wine for so long in order to protect themselves against frost, to ensure they would always have wine to sell,” he explains. This unique approach to winemaking in Chablis ensures Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix can consistently offer an excellent selection of mature Chablis.
http://www.chablisdefaix.com