Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Premier Cru La Forest 2018 Magnum

Domaine Vincent Dauvissat is one of the defining names of Chablis, with four generations of the family shaping a style built around purity, minerality and long ageing. La Forest is one of the domaine’s most distinguished Premier Crus, a site capable of producing wines with density and structural depth approaching Grand Cru territory. Dauvissat farms its vineyards biodynamically, without certification, and works traditionally in the cellar, allowing the character of each site to take precedence over overt winemaking influence. The 2018 vintage was warm and dry, with good water reserves in the soils helping the vines through the summer. Chablis reported wines that were generous and expressive while retaining freshness, and Dauvissat’s La Forest showed particularly well, combining the richness of the year with the mineral drive expected from the site.

Made from 100% Chardonnay, the 2018 La Forest is a substantial, concentrated Premier Cru, with fermentation using indigenous yeasts and élevage predominantly in seasoned oak. It shows grapefruit, lemon and green orchard fruit alongside gunflint, chalk, oyster shell, beeswax and a touch of honey, with the warm vintage giving the palate more breadth without losing its underlying tension. The magnum format is particularly significant: with twice the wine and proportionally less oxygen exposure, it develops more slowly than a standard bottle, preserving freshness while allowing the mineral and savoury complexity to unfold gradually. At eight years old, it should be excellent now with plenty of air, but this magnum is nowhere near the end of its life. Expect a long drinking window through the 2030s and potentially into the early 2040s, depending on storage. Decant gently or open well ahead of dinner, and serve with oysters, lobster, turbot, scallops, roast chicken or Comté.