Jean Dauvissat organic Chablis 1er Cru Cote de Lechet 2023

The Steep, Stony Soul of the Left Bank

In early 2026, the 2022 Côte de Léchet is being celebrated as a "powerhouse of precision." While the 2022 vintage was warm across Burgundy, Côte de Léchet—one of the steepest sites in Chablis with a staggering 38% incline—is a "cool-site" specialist. Its southeast exposure and poor, stony soils acted as a natural regulator, producing a wine that is more voluminous and delineated than "classic" years, yet remains incredibly linear and electric.

Winemaker Fabien Dauvissat manages four parcels here (about 2 hectares) with vines planted in the 1980s. This is the first vintage to carry the full organic certification (since 2022), reflecting a decade of biodynamic work that has resulted in a wine with profound "sapid" energy.

The Terroir: "Stony Intensity"

• The Vibe: If the Jean Dauvissat Village wine is an "afternoon stroll," the Côte de Léchet is a "mountain hike." It is leaner, sharper, and more unapologetically mineral.

• The Soil: Unlike the clay-heavy right bank, this "Left Bank" site is dominated by meager, sandy, and stony soils over Kimmeridgian limestone. The vines must dig exceptionally deep, translating into a wine of great "cut."

• The Craft: Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for a patient 18 to 24 months on the lees in stainless steel. Fabien avoids oak for this cuvée, ensuring that the "gunflint" character of the hill is never masked.

🍷 Tasting Notes (The "Vibe" in 2026)

As we enter 2026, this 1er Cru is just starting to "unfurl." It has moved past its tight, closed-off stage and is beginning to show its true complexity.

• The Nose: Floral and Flinty. It leaps from the glass with high-toned aromas of white flowers, mandarin oil, and crushed stone. There are fascinating secondary hints of aniseed, fresh mint, and almond paste.

• The Palate: Tight, Saline, and Gourmand. The entry is satiny and full-bodied, yet it immediately tightens into a vibrant, racy core of lemon and green apple. It is a textural, "chewy" wine that pulls the saliva and tingles the tongue.

• The Finish: Long and Bracing. It leaves a persistent impression of oyster shell, sea salt, and subtle gunflint.

📋 Technical Snapshot

Best Paired With:

• The "Purist" Match: Fresh Oysters or Sashimi; the wine’s intense salinity and citrus drive are a perfect mirror for raw seafood.

• The Gastronomic Choice: Roast Chicken with Chanterelle Mushrooms; the wine's "fresh mushroom" and almond notes harmonize beautifully with earthy flavors.

• The Sophisticated Match: Lobster with a citrus-butter sauce; the bracing acidity cuts through the richness of the lobster perfectly.

Pro Tip: In 2026, the 2022 Côte de Léchet is noted for its "vibrant tension." To fully experience the anise and honeycomb layers, serve it at 10–12°C. Because of the long lees aging in tank, this wine often shows a "reductive" flintiness when first poured—decanting for 30 minutes is highly recommended to let the mineral core expand.