Domaine Profile
- Location: Saint Bris Le Vineux, Chablis, France
- Varieties: Chardonnay, Aligoté, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
- Size: 12.00 ha (29.65 ac)
- Viticulture: Domaine: Organic (not certified), no herbicides, minimal copper, cover crops and limited soil compaction with lightweight tractors. Negociant: sustainable or organic (not certified).
- Vinification (whites): Vinified and aged without added SO2, pressed, settled overnight, ambient yeast fermentation and aging for 12-18 months on the lees in tanks or barrels (228 L, 350 L, 450 L), some fining, no filtration, SO2 added before bottling (50-70 ppm total).
- Vinification (reds): Vinified and aged without added SO2, 3-7-day cold maceration, ambient yeast fermentation in tank with daily pump-overs and a few punch-downs at the end of fermentation, aged for 18-24 months in barrels, some fining, no filtration, SO2 added before bottling.
In 1987, Erick Lavallée established Domaine Grande Roche in Saint Bris Le Vineux. With the 2019 vintage, his son Clément decided to create his own label, producing wine from about 1.5 hectares of the family vineyards and additional rented vineyards. As of 2021, Clément is producing wine from a total of about 12 hectares.
Clément’s studies in wine include a professional baccalauréat degree from Beaune, a Vine Science Diploma from Dijon, and a DNO (National Enological Degree) from Bordeaux. He also made stints at a long list of well-known domaines including Domaine Verret in Saint Bris, Terres de Velle and Heitz-Lochardet in Burgundy, Chapoutier in the Northern Rhône, and Château Margaux in Bordeaux. He describes his time studying abroad in Australia as very important for teaching him about a “winemaker’s signature.” To make his preferred style of wine, he highlights the importance of maintaining freshness, working by gravity, and only keeping the most qualitative part of the press for his own production, selling as much as 50% of the pressed white must or red wine to other négociants.