CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 1ER CRU DENT DE CHIEN
Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
APPELLATION
Burgundy
GRAPE VARIETIES
100% Chardonnay
WINEMAKERS
Phillippe Duvernay
TECHNICAL DATA
Alcohol
13.5%


The intimate Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay is located in the illustrious village of Chassagne, in the southern Côte de Beaune. The estate is owned by Phillippe Duvernay and his partner Laura Coffinet who set out on their winemaking venture with just seven vineyards, including the Grand Cru Batard Montrachet. The estate encompasses seventeen acres across the appellation in total, ten of which are dedicated to its outstanding white wine, in particular Chassagne Chardonnay, and seven are dedicated to red. This specialist estate produces beautifully crafted wines that capture the intense aromas and flavor of their distinguished terroir like few other boutique wineries in the region. Capable of aging for decades, these impeccable wines have never been available in the United States before now.
WINEMAKING & VINTAGE NOTESThe 1er Cru Dent de Chien lies above the Grands Crus of Chassagne at the upper edge of the slope, as the hill of Mont Rachet turns toward St. Aubin. Limestone rocks litter a light soil over a limestone bedrock, making the vineyard well known for its mineral qualities.
Grapes are hand-harvested at optimum ripeness in small bins, and carried to the winery for a gentle p ressing in the pneumatic bladder press. The must is allowed to settle for 24 hours (debourbage) to allow the gross lees to settle out, and the wine descends by gravity into small oak barriques for primary and malolactic fermentations. The must is stirred (batonnage) very rarely during malolactic, as Philippe Duvernay prefers to allow the wine to develop without any oxidative notes.
The wine is aged 15 months in oak barrels (approximately 1/3 new each year.)
TASTING NOTESThe Coffinet-Duvernay 1er Cru Dent de Chien is crisp, taut, and lively with minerality. Behind scents of wet stones and white flowers is an element of pear and apple fruit, but dominated by the stony focus and intensity of its rocky soils.
Delightful with white fish such as cod, haddock, sole or halibut. It is also excellent with chicken, and has the focus, depth and mineral purity to complement tuna.