CHABLIS

2017 1er Cru Forest Domaine Vincent Dauvissat

EN PRIMEUR

The 2017 Forest is a stupendously good wine and here you can comfortably work through a checklist of what makes great Chablis - and tick everything off. There is good, bright power, the zip is fantastic, so lithe and intense - but there is lovely weight too. Small yellow berries, lemon oil make up a juicy succulence. All framed by clean, peppy lines and super mineral feel - oyster-shell and a more saline pull build on the finish. With 3.7 Hectares in this 1er Cru, La Forest is Vincent's largest holding.L&S (Oct 2018)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

The 2017 Chablis La Forest 1er Cru is a standout and one of the wines that brings together so many of the best elements of the Dauvissat house style. A Chablis of marvelous contrasts, the Forest is at once light on its feet and also packed with notable intensity. At the same time, the Forest is mysterious and not ready to show all of its cards yet. There is so much to look forward to. The Forest emerges from eight parcels spread across 3.7 hectares, Dauvissat's largest holding. I imagine the diversity of these micro-parcels goes a long way in giving the wine dimension and complexity. Drinking range: 2022 - 2037 Rating: 95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)

Now reduced to 3.7ha since 0.8ha were given to his nephew, Vincent Dauvissat's 12 parcels of Forest (his spelling) are still producing a spellbinding wine. It's all almond paste, beeswax and oyster shell, with a drizzle of honey. Drinking range: 2022 - 2032 Rating: 96 Tim Atkin MW - Decanter (Dec 2018)

This is aromatically cooler than the Vaillons with its airy combination of algae, lemon rind and wet stone where the latter element can also be found on the sleek, intense and energetic middle weight plus flavors that are a bit finer than usual, all wrapped in a bone dry and aggressively mineral-driven finale. A classic La Forest that is clearly built-to-age. 2027+ Rating: 91-94 Allen Meadows, www.Burghound.com (Oct 2018)

A fabulous rendition of Vincent Dauvissat's emblematic premier cru, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru La Forest offers up classic aromas of oystershell, lemon oil, dried white flowers and rock salt. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and reserved, with superb cut and tension, concluding with a long, saline and chalky finish. Rating: 93-95 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Aug 2018)

The 2017 Chablis La Forest 1er Cru was the most reduced of Vincent Dauvissat’s wines from barrel and difficult to read. The palate is more representative: superb tension thanks to a razor-like bead of acidity, very saline in the mouth so you perceive an almost jolting dryness on the finish but paradoxically and enormously long spicy aftertaste. What a cerebral proposition this is. Drinking range: 2024 - 2038 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2018)

A domaine of 12.7 hectares, comprising a hectare each of the Grands Crus Clos and Preuses, 3.7ha of Premier Cru Forest, 1.3ha of Vaillons, 0.4ha of Séchet, .3ha of Montée de Tonnerre, 3.3ha of Chablis, 1.1ha of Petit Chablis, and .6ha of Irancy (red).

Vincent Dauvissat remains one of the (if not the) leading lights of Chablis, and his wines are always in high demand and limited volume.

Vincent's grandfather Robert was the first to start bottling under the family name in 1931 and Vincent uses the same cellar today - but the family have been growing grapes here since the 18th century. Today his single-minded determination in the vineyard, where he follows biodynamic principles (without certification) followed by very subtle use of old oak barrels as part of a long élevage, produce some of Chablis' most age-worthy and fascinating wines.

Vincent advises drinking the Grands Crus either young, (within the first three years) or after 10 years when they are becoming fully evolved. Serve at 13C, so that the wine will warm up to about 15C before tasting - any colder masks the subtleties. He prefers to serve the wine directly in glasses rather than decanting it, so as not to miss the first nose and its evolution - with an old wine he advises simply smelling this evolution over the first half an hour before tasting.

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Wines bought en primeur are scheduled to arrive in the UK over the course of the next eighteen months. If you do not wish to take home delivery, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our primeurs team for more information.

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