Domaine Bernard Defaix started as one of, if not the, smallest estates in all of Chablis. Bernard got his start making wine in 1959 with a mere 2 hectares when he founded his tiny property in Milly on the left bank of the Seine. The estate has since grown to a more healthy 27 hectares, many of which are in Chablis most prime Premier Crus and Grand Crus. His sons Didier and Sylvain have no taken over and they carry on their father's traditional winemaking style. Farming is organic and often biodynamic when the temperamental weather of Chablis allows, and the majority of the wines are vilified and matured in stainless steel, with the exception of the Grand Crus and one very special Premier Cru.
The "Reserve" Côte de Lechet cuvée comes from the family's oldest vines (planted in 1959) that produces such high quality fruit that Bernard felt it deserved special treatment. The juice is vilified in oak to add extra concentration and texture, and the resulting wine is brilliant and beloved by critics every vintage. As for the Montée de Tonnerre , it is arguably Chablis most famous Premier Cru and one that often stands up to the Gran Crus in terms of quality and fruit ripeness. With options like these you really can't go wrong. Both wines are incredible values for some of Chablis' best real estate and have all the briny minerality and fresh citrus we know and love from classic Chablis.
