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Domaine Bernard Defaix: “A Joy Throughout”—The ’21 Côte de Léchet and 2022 Chablis

Domaine Bernard Defaix: “A Joy Throughout”—The ’21 Côte de Léchet and 2022 Chablis

A tale of two vintages. A return to the cooler Chablisien vintages of old, 2021 was also a year blighted by frost. Like many of our Burgundy growers, this Domaine was hit hard by April’s severe week-long freeze. Defaix’s parcels in Milly, including the Côte de Léchet, were down 50%; in Vaillons, the figure rose to 70%, and no Petit Chablis was made. What the year lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality: Defaix’s 2021 1er Cru Côte de Léchet has been described by Jasper Morris as “a joy throughout”.

Alongside this wine, we also offer Defaix’s Chablis and Petit Chablis from 2022. Following the heartbreaking yields of the previous year, with something approaching a normal-sized harvest Didier Defaix finally got to put his new cuverie to good use. The wines have delightful flesh and purity alongside mouth-watering structure and stony resonance: quintessential Chablis and quintessential Defaix.

The Wines

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