The Wine
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Appellation: CHABLIS AOC VINEYARD VAUDECORCE – south facing vineyard planted on primarily Kimmeridgean soil which imparts a distinctively mineral, flinty note to the wines. 8,000 vines per hectare
Age of vines: 15 years old
Ageing: 10 months in stainless steel/Aged oak
Cold stabilisation: Stabilised by negative temperature (-5°) for one week.
Bottling: In July
In Average: Approximately 1,500 bottles under natural cork
The vineyard was planted in 1999 and the first wine production was in 2002. It won the silver medal for Chablis at the prestigious Salon des Vins des Caves des Particuliers 2002.
The Makers
The Dampt family of three brothers Emmanuel, Eric and Herve have taken over the running of Dampt business which was established by their Grandfather at the beginning of the last century. The business is one of the truly up and coming Chablis growers who are prepared to innovate and explore the art of viniculture in order to develop the best possible wine.
They win a large and disproportionate number of medals every year for their increasingly well-known and prized wines. They are starting to attract owners of Premier and Grand Cru land (they now make 6 of these much respected jewels in Chablis's crown). They have a very modern and innovative chai in Collan just to the east of Chablis. They focus on timing and respect in what they do, making each step in the wine-making process at the moment best suited for the state of the wine, and seeking to capture and preserve the true character of each piece of land and each season. It is thought they will be among the great growers of history in Chablis.
Their emblem is the famous French diplomat, writer and spy the Chevalier d'Eon, whose private life was as extraordinary and enigmatic as his public career. They make both white wines from Chablis or Tonnerre and red wine from Tonnerre, Coulanges and Irancy.
The Vineyard
The vineyard is just over half a hectare of steep south-facing Kimmeridgean limestone near Chichée, a hamlet south-east of Chablis. The little valley of Vaudécorce where the vineyard lies is next to the Premier Cru Vaucoupin and this parcel has the same Southern exposition and soil as the Vaucoupin Premier Cru land. Some say Vaudécorce was Premier Cru in the 19th century but no-one knows for sure. The high proportion of Kimmeridgean clay and oolitic oysters (ostrea virgula) give the wine a strong and traditional Chablis style of flinty, smoky and aromatic character. This is the difference between Petit Chablis on the one hand and true Chablis, Premier Cru and Grand Cru on the other.
The Chardonnay clones with which the vineyard was planted in 1999 were chosen by owner Chris Watson, with a steely focus on quality, intensity, minerality and complexity, where other growers often opt for safety, volume or simplicity. The density of planting is particularly high for an AOC Chablis, at 8,000 vines per hectare, giving greater concentration and deeper roots, which leads to a wine exceptionally faithful to its terroir, because of a deeper and a more stable root structure.
The owner has planted roses at the end of the rows of vines. These act as indicators of problems with soil or disease but also add colour to the vineyard.
Vintage Chart
tasting Notes
1990
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
1991
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
1992
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
tasting Notes
1990
yum yum
1991
very yum yum
1992.
extremely yum yum