No other Chablis house releases wines quite like Defaix. Daniel-Etienne has done the aging for you, presenting these wines in peak drinking condition. We have long championed the brand and move quickly when rare Grand Cru allocations become available.
Defaix’s lineage stands alongside Chablis royalty like Raveneau and Dauvissat. While Raveneau’s 2022 release has reached the market and Dauvissat’s 2023s have just arrived, Defaix’s current offering hails from the 2013 vintage—at a fraction of the price. Securing Grand Cru Raveneau and Dauvissat at retail is nearly impossible, making this limited allocation all the more extraordinary.
Etienne Defaix farms a tiny sub-parcel of this 15-hectare Grand Cru vineyard, named “Blanchots” after the white clay blanketing its steep hillside. Green and blue clay, Kimmeridgian soil, and abundant sea fossils create a robust terroir, perfectly counterbalancing Blanchot’s cool southeast exposure.
The glass bursts with aromas of preserved lemon, tangerine oil, macadamia nut honey, orange blossom, white truffle, aged triple crème cheeses, crushed oyster shells, and a touch of melted butter. The bone-dry palate offers a luxurious, creamy richness with notes of crème Anglaise, roasted nuts, and crushed chalk, leading to Defaix’s signature austere yet endlessly thrilling oyster shell finish. A brilliant wine—this 2013 will continue to peak over the next five years.
