Not Just Chablis from Clotilde Davenne
Not Just Chablis from Clotilde Davenne
If there is one area within Burgundy that allows for a bit of extra creativity, it's Chablis. Most notably, Chablis is the home of incredible mineral driven, crisp, refreshing white wines made from Chardonnay, however due to its proximity to both Sancerre and Champagne, it is no wonder that the region produces incredible Sauvignon Blancs and Cremants too!
Clotilde Davenne comes from a cattle farming family and began her wine career as the chief oenologist for Jean-Marc Brocard. After 16 years working with Brocard, Clotilde slowly began assembling her own domaine. The first vineyard she purchased was her Petit Chablis parcel in a vineyard she calls “les Temps Perdu” translating to lost time, since all the locals told her that land was a waste of time, but Clotilde saw the western exposure and pure Kimmeridgian soils and felt it had great potential. Both her Petit Chablis and Chablis are wines of incredible minerality, purity, and freshness. They exemplify a very classic refreshing style of Chablis. Her first vintage was 2005 and for the last twenty years Clotilde has continued to grow and refine her wines.
I was lucky to meet Clotilde Davenne when she came to New York this past Fall. Her energy and passion for Chablis was contagious! In our relatively short time together, I could immediately tell how thoughtful she was in all her winemaking. She works her own 18 hectares of vines meticulously without the use of chemicals. Everything is hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. All her wines undergo malolactic fermentation which she believes bring complexity. No oak is used throughout, allowing the fruit to shine through. She stated how her goal is to make wines to go well with food, and not to overpower or be the "king on the table," One of the last things she mentioned while we tasted was how “we have a very strong terroir, it is a pity to hide it.” This really stuck with me, she is making wines based on what she believes will showcase her land at its best, and it shows!
In a slightly more unique manner, Clotilde looks outside the norm of Chablis and makes Saint-Bris (Sauvignon Blanc) and Cremant de Bourgogne (as well as a Bourgogne Rouge that is not offered today). She explained to me how she always had a draw to Champagne and wanted to make wine there, but instead of moving she decided to make sparkling wine at home in Chablis. Being just an hour outside of the Aube, it is not surprising how remarkable these Cremants are, a true value when it comes to sparkling wines. In addition to her beautiful sparkling wines, Clotilde has crafted two incredible Sauvignon Blancs too, the first is fun, playful Sauvignon de Saint Bris that any lover of the grape would enjoy, especially on a hot Summer's day. The Vieille Vignes is from a special plot with vines ranging between 60-108 years old on Kimmeridigian soils. It is aged for 18 months on the lees and an additional year in bottle before release and is absolutely fantastic! It is a wine of incredible depth, texture, and one to showcase the range of what Sauvignon Blanc can do as a grape.
Overall, the wines of Clotilde Davenne are those to be enjoyed with food and friends. Allow her energetic wines to bring some brightness to hot days by the pool and the dinners that follow. I know I will!
-Hanna Krilov Cohen
Change the "View as" style below to read MORE INFO on the wines, and click on a wine for the full tasting note!
Davenne, Clotilde NV Cremant de Bourgogne Extra Brut
Hand harvested and vinified methode champenoise with no dosage. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from Kimmeridgien calcaire soils. Aged 18 months sur lattes. A Crisp, elegant, easy drinking Cremant that is incredibly food friendly and an...
$34.99
Davenne, Clotilde NV Cremant de Bourgogne Rose Extra Brut
100% Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgien soils from the lieu-dit ‘Les Rosier’ Saint-Bris. The grapes are hand picked and partially destemmed before 24-48 hours of maceration. This is a very light handed style of Rose de Saignee. It is made methode...
$34.99
Davenne, Clotilde 2023 Petit Chablis
The first vineyard that Clotilde ever purchased. When she bought it, the locals told her the land was a waste of time and work but Clotilde saw the western exposure and pure Kimmeridgian soils and felt it had great potential....
$39.99
Davenne, Clotilde 2023 Chablis
30-35 year-old-vines on south facing slopes of Kimmeridgian soils. Fermented in tank and undergoes full malolactic fermentation. Aged for 8-12 months on the lees before being bottled. A perfect balance of minerality and citrus fruits.
$43.99
Davenne, Clotilde 2023 Sauvignon de Saint Bris
A plot of 20-25 year-old vines on Kimmeridgian and Portlandian soils. Fermented in tank to showcase the fruit first. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation which brings complexity, and is rested on the lees for 8-13 months. The resulting wine showcases...
$31.99
Davenne, Clotilde 2021 Saint-Bris Vieilles Vignes
100% Sauvignon Blanc from a parcel of 60-108 year old vines planted on Kimmeridgian soils. It is fermented in tank and undergoes full malolactic fermentation. It is then aged for 18 months on the lees and an additional 1 year...
$44.99
