Variety: Chardonnay

The Defaix family is a fourth generation of a family of vine-growers rich in personality. Bernard Defaix started the vineyard in 1959 with 2 ha. Vineyard holdings across the Chablis region of Burgundy have expanded to 27 ha including three Premier Cru vineyards (Côte de Léchet, Vaillons and Lys) and others in the Chablis and Petit Chablis appellations. Bernard’s sons Sylvain and Didier have been managing the domain for about twenty years, handling winemaking and vineyard operations, respectively. Didier’s wife, Helene, handles administration and sales. Although this is a small property – common in France – the Defaix family undertook an extensive study of their vineyard soils to better understand vine root systems and the impact of mechanized vineyard operations. From 2012, they have been producing organic wines.

Côte de Lechet is the name of this 51 hectare vineyard with a west-facing bank all to itself. The Defaix family farms eight hectares of this site and are noted for being the biggest vignerons of this cru. Not only does this site get plenty of sunshine, but there is a plethora of fantastic fossils known as Exogyra Virgula, an extinct variety of fossilized marine oysters that lie at the base of the vines. This is a site that ripens well and early, complimented by the distinct minerals found in its soils. This Premier Cru level Chablis undergoes extensive ageing on its lees and spends some time in neutral oak. Though this wine can be drunk immediately with your favorite fish dish, it will age exceptionally well.