Chablis La Forest 2018 Domaine Vincent Dauvissat

Chablis La Forest 2018 is a White Premier Cru from Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, from Chardonnay grapes grown in the Forêt vineyard, which this winery refers to as La Forest. The 2018 growing season in the Chablis region was hot, began early, and yielded a bountiful harvest. Summer rainfall totaled a mere 10 mm, and the harvest was so abundant that many growers exceeded the appellation's yield limit. The grapes ripened smoothly. These characteristics are reflected in the wine. Since the 2018 vintage lacks the sharp acidity typically found in cool Chablis vintages, La Forest emphasizes texture and salinity rather than a sharp, cutting edge.

The balance of this wine is achieved through Dauvissat's winemaking methods. Hand-harvested grapes are pressed whole, without destemming, and undergo natural fermentation in enamel-coated steel tanks and oak barrels, followed by aging in oak barrels that are already 6 to 8 years old. No new oak barrels are used, and the wine undergoes neither bâtonnage (lees stirring) nor fining.

This winery's Premier Cru Chablis rarely reveals its full charm in its youth. While the 2018 La Forest can be enjoyed relatively early compared to the winery's other wines, the robust structure that characterizes these wines remains intact, and those who patiently wait for it in their cellars will find it well worth the wait.

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