Dampt Frères is making absolutely beautiful Chablis these days and deserves to be wider known!

—John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
 
At its best, Chablis (Check out our handy guide to Chablis) is about the most nakedly terroir-focused wine in France. And yet, mysteriously, it has remained the last reasonably-priced home of 1er and Grand Cru Burgundy. True, we’ve seen more and more of Chablis’ biggest names rise in price, but there are still great deals to be found — none of them more shocking than Dampt Frères' lineup of Grand Crus.

Dampt is an old Chablis family, but this branch’s journey begins with the vision and passion for the region of Bernard Dampt. In the early 1980s, Bernard left the local co-op, began bottling his own wines, and patiently reclaimed old vineyards that had gone fallow. His foresight and hard work became the cornerstone of today’s domaine, now run by his three sons, Hervé, Emmanuel, and Eric.

They’re following in his footsteps. The traditionalist John Gilman is a huge fan (you can read his 2022 raves below). But the other big critics haven’t reviewed them yet so, for now at least, the deals abide.
 
This isn’t just an opportunity to grab true Grand Cru Burgundy (and one 1er) at classic prices. It’s a chance to taste a range of Grand Crus (and that excellent 1er cru!) from a traditional producer and experience the differences in terroir at the highest echelon in Burgundy’s hierarchy. Take any four bottles of Dampt to get the best pricing.

Domaine Dampt Frères, Chablis Fourchaume 1er, 2022 $44.99
“I have always liked the Dampt brothers’ bottling of Fourchaume, which I find a bit more defined by its underlying minerality than many examples of Fourchaume. The 2022 version is excellent, coming in at an even thirteen percent octane and delivering a fine bouquet of pear, fresh lime, chalky minerality, dried flowers, a touch of straw and a topnote of beeswax. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and complex, with lovely depth of fruit at the core, fine mineral undertow, a very good spine of acidity and a long, well balanced and classy finish. This is a fine, fine example of Fourchaume.” 2024-2045

Domaine Dampt Frères, Chablis les Preuses Grand Cru, 2022 $84.99
"I love the Les Preuses bottling from the Dampt brothers, as these are their oldest vines in any of their fine grand cru holdings. The vines here are now between fifty-five and seventy-five years of age and the wine is outstanding in 2022. Like the other grand crus in the lineup here, the les Preuses sees about a third of the cuvée raised in older barrels and the rest in stainless steel.
The wine this year offers up a beautiful bouquet of lemon, pear, oyster shell, limestone minerality, a touch of straw, dried flowers, beeswax and a gentle touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and impeccably balanced, with lovely depth of fruit at the core, a complex foundation of minerality, bright acids and excellent length and grip on the very
classy finish. First class les Preuses! 2024-2055. Outstanding."

Domaine Dampt Frères, Chablis Blanchot Grand Cru, 2022 $84.99
"The Blanchot from Domaine Dampt Frères is also made from old vines, as this parcel is more than fifty years of age now. It is given a small percentage of barrel-aging, with the remainder of the cuvée raised in stainless steel tank. The 2022 Blanchot again comes in at thirteen percent octane and offers up a superb nose of apple, pear, paraffin, a hint of raw almond, oyster shell, lovely chalky minerality, white flowers and a discreet framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, precise and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, superb mineral drive and grip, zesty acids and lovely focus and balance on the long, complex and vibrant finish.”

Domaine Dampt Frères, Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru, 2022 $91.99
"This is excellent Blanchot!...absolutely lovely, with around a third of the cuvée raised in cask and the rest in stainless steel tanks. The wine is also an even thirteen percent alcohol in this vintage and offers up a lovely aromatic constellation of pear, golden delicious apple, flinty minerality, dried flowers, just a touch of paraffin and a lovely, delicate framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, vibrant and focused, with lovely depth of fruit at the core, a good spine of acidity, seamless balance and a long, complex and succulent finish. Like the Bougros this year, the Dampt family’s 2022 Vaudésir is absolutely delicious right out of the blocks.”