Daniel-Etienne Defaix 'Vieilles Vignes' Chablis, Burgundy, France 2021
Pickup available at DECANT Napa - 2999 Solano, Napa, CA
Usually ready in 1 hour
Daniel-Etienne Defaix represents one of Chablis’s most traditional and patient voices. From a family with more than four centuries of winemaking history in the region, he is known for crafting age-worthy Chablis through extended lees aging and late release—a rarity in modern Burgundy. His wines, made entirely from old-vine Chardonnay, capture the tension and depth that define the Kimmeridgian limestone soils of Chablis.
- WINEMAKER: Daniel-Etienne Defaix
- FARMING: Sustainable, lutte raisonnée
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay
- TERROIR: The Chablis Vieilles Vignes is sourced from estate plots averaging 45–50 years of age on classic Kimmeridgian limestone and marl soils around the village of Milly. These old vines produce naturally low yields and deeply mineral wines that reflect the cool northern climate and stony subsoils of the appellation.
- VINIFICATION: Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally to balance the wine’s brisk acidity and add texture.
- AGING: Aged for an extended period on fine lees in stainless steel (typically two years or more) before bottling, allowing natural clarification and the development of depth and complexity.
- TASTING NOTES: The 2021 Chablis Vieilles Vignes shows lifted aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and white flowers over a foundation of crushed shell and flint. The palate is taut and mineral-driven, with vibrant acidity, fine texture, and a long saline finish that speaks clearly of its limestone terroir.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Excellent with oysters, shellfish, white fish, roast chicken, or soft-ripened cheeses. Serve chilled to highlight its precision and freshness.
Daniel-Etienne Defaix represents one of Chablis’s most traditional and patient voices. From a family with more than four centuries of winemaking history in the region, he is known for crafting age-worthy Chablis through extended lees aging and late release—a rarity in modern Burgundy. His wines, made entirely from old-vine Chardonnay, capture the tension and depth that define the Kimmeridgian limestone soils of Chablis.
- WINEMAKER: Daniel-Etienne Defaix
- FARMING: Sustainable, lutte raisonnée
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay
- TERROIR: The Chablis Vieilles Vignes is sourced from estate plots averaging 45–50 years of age on classic Kimmeridgian limestone and marl soils around the village of Milly. These old vines produce naturally low yields and deeply mineral wines that reflect the cool northern climate and stony subsoils of the appellation.
- VINIFICATION: Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally to balance the wine’s brisk acidity and add texture.
- AGING: Aged for an extended period on fine lees in stainless steel (typically two years or more) before bottling, allowing natural clarification and the development of depth and complexity.
- TASTING NOTES: The 2021 Chablis Vieilles Vignes shows lifted aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and white flowers over a foundation of crushed shell and flint. The palate is taut and mineral-driven, with vibrant acidity, fine texture, and a long saline finish that speaks clearly of its limestone terroir.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Excellent with oysters, shellfish, white fish, roast chicken, or soft-ripened cheeses. Serve chilled to highlight its precision and freshness.