Author: Graeme Brandham

If you’ve ever stared at bottles from the Dauvissat family in Chablis and wondered how they’re all related, you’re not alone. Their story is a perfect illustration of how family, history, and ancient French laws shape the wine in your glass. Let’s unravel the puzzle of one of Chablis's most revered names. The Benchmark: Domaine Vincent Dauvissat. First, let's start with the king. The most celebrated of all is Domaine Vincent Dauvissat. This is one of the magic names of the appellation, producing wines of incredible depth and longevity. But right away, we hit a classic point of confusion: some of these exact same wines are sold under the... Domaine Dauvissat-Camus. So, what’s the story? Are they different? No. The wine in the bottle is identical, aged in the very same barrels. The two labels are simply a matter of accounting, dictated by which side of Vincent’s family officially owns which parcel of vines. Though Vincent and his children farm all the vineyards and make all the wine as one, the bottles are labelled proportionally to the ownership structure. This is where a ghost from France's past steps into the vineyard. The Ghost of Napoléon The culprit behind these complex ownership structures is the Napoleonic Code. Established in the early 19th century, this legal system mandates that all familial property must be inherited equally by all children. Imagine a family-owned vineyard as a single pie. With each new generation, that pie is sliced into smaller and smaller pieces. To prevent a great estate from becoming a patchwork of tiny, unworkable plots, families must either have one sibling buy out the others or form complex companies where one sibling runs the estate and pays the others as shareholders. This system is why a single domaine might legally operate as multiple entities, or why a winemaker might have to create a négociant (a company that can buy grapes) simply to purchase the fruit from their own cousins and sell it all under one label. This complexity isn't unique to Chablis. For example, in Burgundy, Domaine Nicolas Rossignol was set up as a négoce to unite grapes from his extended family. In Champagne, Nicolas Maillart is technically a Négociant-Manipulant (NM) despite being a true 'grower', because he farms and buys grapes from his cousins' land. (There’s more on this in our blog ‘Decoding Champagne’). With this in mind, the rest of the Dauvissat family tree starts to make perfect sense. The Family Resemblance: Meet the Cousins The Dauvissat influence extends through marriage and mentorship, creating a distinct 'house style' that can be found in the cellars of their relatives. Domaine Laurent Tribut: This is the closest stylistic relative to Vincent Dauvissat, and for good reason. Vincent’s sister, Marie-Clothilde, married Laurent Tribut, who learned his craft directly from the master. The similarity in both vineyard philosophy and cellar technique is striking. Today, their daughter Solange carries the baton, and whether you see a label for Domaine Laurent Tribut or Domaine Solange Tribut, you'll find a clear and delicious family resemblance. Domaine Agnès et Didier Dauvissat: A distant cousin of Vincent, Didier and his wife Agnès started their domaine from scratch in 1986. Their son Florent has since joined them, bringing with him a world-class education that includes training stints with his relative Vincent Dauvissat, Frédéric Mugnier in Chambolle-Musigny, and Copain in California. Their wines are a beautiful expression of specific terroirs, from the clay-and-limestone blend of their Petit Chablis ‘Les Deux Terres’ to their excellent Premier Cru Beauroy. Domaine Jean et Sébastien Dauvissat: Another branch of cousins, this domaine confirms its shared ancestry with Vincent through its vineyard holdings. With parcels in top sites like Vaillons, Montmains, Séchet, and the Grand Cru Preuses, their portfolio mirrors that of their more famous relative, pointing to a common origin deep in Chablis history. The Other Dauvissat: A Name in Common To complete the puzzle, there is one more well-regarded producer you should know: Domaine Jean Dauvissat. Now run by the founder's grandson, Fabien, this 23-hectare estate is the exception that proves the rule. According to their U.S. importer, they are definitively not related to any of the other Dauvissats from Chablis. So, the next time you see that famous name on a label, you'll know that behind it lies a story of shared barrels, splintered vineyards, and the long shadow of French history, a delicious dilemma worth exploring. Key points. Vincent Dauvissat & Dauvissat-Camus: Same wine, different labels due to ownership. Laurent Tribut: The closest in style to Vincent. The Cause: Napoleonic inheritance laws. Not All Dauvissats Are Related: The domaine run by Fabien Dauvissat is a separate family. All the best The Lea & Sandeman team.

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