Description
La Forest, which is Vincent Dauvissat’s deliberate spelling of the famous Chablis 1er Cru Les Forets, is perhaps his most emblematic wine, even more so than his Grand Cru Les Clos and Les Preuses.
Year on year it is of true Grand Cru quality at about a third of the price. It’s certainly not cheap but it is the unicorn 1er Cru wine of Chablis, that needs to be cellared to evolve.
A Domaine that needs no introduction. Vincent Dauvissat along with Francois Raveneau are to most the benchmark Domaine’s of this superb region. The first wines labelled under Dauvissat were released in 1931 by Vincent’s grandfather Robert. Vincent himself took over the reigns in 1970 and in fact now has his own children who are involved, Ghislain and Etiennette.
The Domaine has been working with Biodynamics since 2002 across all their vineyards which include Petit and Village Chablis, 1er Cru Vaillons,1er Cru Sechets,1er Cru La Forets and the Grand Cru sites of Les Clos and Les Preuses. A key part of their style is the use of barrels in the elevage of their wines. Primary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with a small proportion dependent on the vineyard into barrel. Post fermentation the majority of the wines pend from 6 to 18 months in barrel, the majority of which is seasoned, neutral oak.
“The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest is also showing well, opening in the glass with aromas of crisp green orchard fruit, citrus oil, beeswax, honeycomb and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s fleshy and enveloping, with a lovely spine of acidity and a long, saline finish. Like the Vaillons, this is quite demonstrative for a young Dauvissat Forest, and it will deliver considerable pleasure straight out of the gates.” 93 points, William Kelley
