“In order to make good wines, you need good grapes.”
Certified organic, Defaix’s Chablis villages originates from four parcels of mature vines, 30 years and older, strategically situated around Milly and Poinchy on the left bank of the Serein River.
The wine underwent a spontaneous fermentation process and was aged on fine lees for a duration of 10 months within glass-lined tanks.
Their vineyards stand out as carefully tended, employing a natural approach that consistently yields wines exemplifying the essence of Chablis: marked by purity, freshness, texture, and enduring character.
********
Bernard Defaix, a fourth-generation vine-grower hailing from a family deeply rooted in viticulture, initiated his vinicultural journey in 1959 with a modest 2-hectare parcel.
Today, spanning 27 hectares, the domain encompasses Chablis Premier Cru (Côte de Lechet, Vaillons, and Lys), Chablis, and Petit Chablis. Embracing sustainable, organic farming and biodynamic practices has been a longstanding commitment, with an emphasis on eco-friendly methodologies.
Situated beneath the vines of the skeletal Léchet hill in the quaint hamlet of Milly, the Defaix cellars preside over the largest expanse of the 1er Cru vineyard, Côte de Léchet, establishing Domaine Bernard Defaix as the emblematic vigneron and the sole certified organic grower of this site.
Over the past two decades, Bernard’s sons have assumed the helm of the domain, with Sylvain overseeing vinification, aging, bottling, and order preparation, while Didier tends to the vineyard and manages the domain’s overall operations. Helene, Didier’s wife, handles administrative and commercial affairs, culminating in a seamless family-led operation from the vine to the final customer.