Domaine Jean Dauvissat

France / Chablis

Fabien Dauvissat, son of Jean, has made some radical changes in his father’s considerable Chablis domaine. His father was first and foremost a grape farmer. On nearly 20 HA and 53 different parcels ranging from Petit Chablis to Premier Cru over seven different communes, he produced quality grapes for a big negociant house. But Fabien has different ideas. He is one of a generation that sees the value in producing not just good Chablis, but great Chablis. So, he has taken the domaine organic, using only copper and sulfur, no weed killers, no chemical fertilizers, and no systemics. The best producers will tell you that quality is all about taking risks. And Fabien is fully aware of the gamble. But in the process, by reducing the volume of wine produced on the domain in his father’s days to the levels he targets now, he has made himself a considerable reputation for a winemaker barely into his 30s.