Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Coffinet-Duvernay is a relatively small domaine, based in Fernand Coffinet's old premises, located in the heart of the village of Chassagne Montrachet in the southern Côte de Beaune. This domaine has built its reputation by showcasing the diversity of its single-vineyard Chassagne-Montrachets, rather than relying on a single flagship wine.
White wines dominate the lineup: Premier Cru and village wines produced from climats such as Les Dents de Chien, Les Caillerets, Les Grands Clos, and Les Blanchots Dessus, as well as red wines. And a white Grand cru, Batard Montrachet.
Philippe Duvernay and Laura Coffinet founded this domaine based on their family's legacy, and it is currently run by their son, Bastien. Yields are kept low, pressing is done gently, and fermentation takes place in oak barrels. There is nothing exaggerated about the way this domaine is run.
The history
Domaine Coffinet is a small family-owned business that dates back to 1860 and has been passed down through generations in the village of Chassagne. Fernand Coffinet and his wife, Cécile, ran the company until the 1980s.
When they stepped down, the vineyard was divided between their two daughters, Laura and Fabienne. Laura married Philippe Duvernay in 1989, and the name of the new domaine was naturally decided. The portion inherited by Fabienne became a separate domaine, Morey-Coffinet, named after her married surname.
Philippe took charge of the vineyard and winery, while Laura shares in managing this domaine, which is still operated on a small scale. After joining his parents, Bastien Duvernay has led the business, working in the same restrained manner that the family has always upheld.
Consequently, this domaine is both old and young. Although the vineyards have been tended by the same family line since the 19th century, they have only been bottled under a label that dates from 1989.
Seven hectares
Most of the vineyards owned by Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay are located within Chassagne-Montrachet. These vineyards cover an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares, which is relatively small even by Côte de Beaune standards, and are not concentrated in a single plot but are divided into numerous named climats.
The Premier Cru parcels include Les Dents de Chien, Les Caillerets, Les Grands Clos, and Les Blanchots Dessus. The Village category includes Les Blanchots Dessous and Les Voillenots, which is used for red wine.
Les Caillerets is located just below the Pot Bois forest and is the highest vineyard in Chassagne. Meanwhile, Les Blanchots Dessous and Les Blanchots Dessus are situated near the Grand Cru vineyards Montrachet and Criots. And there is also a grand cru, the Batard Montrachet.
Philippe Duvernay oversees vineyard operations and strictly manages yields. Given the small size of this plot, there is little room to expect a bountiful harvest.
The terroir
Place names in the Chassagne-Montrachet region tend to describe the soil, and the climats of Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay are a prime example of this. The name Blanchots derives from the white limestone found in the soil, which is so prominent that it gave the vineyard its name.
Les Dents de Chien means dog's tooth. The rocks there break into thin, sharp fragments that jut out of the vineyard like fangs.
It is also the reason why the flavors of the wines of a few vineyard plots differ so significantly, and why the domaine bottles them separately rather than blending them into a single Chassagne-Montrachet.
Chardonnay, with one exception
The grape varieties are classic Burgundy:
- Chardonnay: A white variety that accounts for the majority of production
- Pinot Noir for the red Chassagne-Montrachet Les Voillenots
Chassagne-Montrachet is known worldwide as the white Burgundy and the wines of Coffinet-Duvernay reflect that.
The winemaking
Philippe Duvernay follows the traditional Burgundian method.
The grapes are fed into a pneumatic press and pressed slowly and gently. The juice is then left in a tank overnight to allow the sediment to settle naturally, a process known as débourbage. At this stage, only time and gravity are relied upon.
Once the settling process is complete, the clear juice flows by gravity into barriques (small oak barrels), where it ferments. Fermenting in oak barrels rather than tanks is standard practice for authentic white Burgundy, and Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay adheres to this practice.
Low yields in the vineyard, meticulous care in the winery.
The wines
Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay is a winery specializing in single-vineyard wines, and its product lineup is structured more like a map of Chassagne-Montrachet than a hierarchical pyramid.
Among the Premier Crus, the Chassagne-Montrachet Les Dents de Chien 1er Cru is one of the wines you absolutely must know about. Alongside it are the Les Blanchots Dessus, Les Caillerets, and Les Grands Clos, each produced from different vineyards within the village.
The Grand Cru wine is the Batard Montrachet.
Red Chassagne-Montrachet Les Voillenots rounds out this lineup. Since this domaine's overall production is low, individual bottlings are also produced in limited quantities.
Frequently asked questions
Is Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay the same as Domaine Morey-Coffinet?
No, they are two separate domaines. Both came out of Fernand Coffinet's holdings when the vineyards were divided between his daughters in the 1980s.
Is the family related to Paul Pillot?
Yes, by marriage. Cécile Coffinet, Fernand's wife and the mother of Laura and Fabienne, was Paul Pillot's sister.
Is Les Dents de Chien a grand cru?
No. It is a premier cru climat of Chassagne-Montrachet, planted to Chardonnay.
