Coffinet-Duvernay

Bastien Duvernay is the grandson of Fernand Coffinet and now runs this tiny estate which also incorporates vines from the Duvernay family with a total of just 6.5 hectares of vines. Located in the heart of Chassagne Montrachet (almost next door to PYCM), the vineyard holdings of this estate make this one of the finest to be found in the village with an enviable selection of some of the very best 1er cru sites throughout the village.

For winemaking all wines are whole bunch pressed for both white and red (30% whole bunch from 2022) and fermented with indigenous yeast using a selection of several different coopers for oak maturation, Cavin, Seguin-Moreau, Tremaux, Billon, Radoux and Eric Millard. Small safe amounts of SO2 are used in the elevage until bottling with minimal safe levels. Reduction is not part of his style, allowing absolute purity and terroir definition for each wine. His aim is to allow the personality of each parcel to come through clearly in his wines. He acheives that very well.

What a brilliant tasting! For two reasons – the range of wines was outstanding and secondly, I found that I learnt a lot from young Bastien Duvernay concerning the various vineyards where the family have holdings.
The two senior vineyards Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Dent de Chien and Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet were picked on 4th September, with the harvest beginning in earnest two days later. Degrees were mostly between 13 and 13.5%, rising towards 14% by the end of the harvest, while a correct level of acidity was maintained. 2023 yields chez Coffinet-Duvernay were lower than elsewhere, around 45/50 hl/ha which Bastien puts down to the combative effect of having a lot of grass in the vines. As a result, these wines deliver an additional density rarely found in this enjoyable vintage. What makes them great is the exceptional sense of balance found in almost all of them. The wines are very true to their terroirs. Most of the wines had been racked to tank for bottling in December, a few were still in barrel, to be racked in December and bottled in February. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, December 2024

Dry whites

2024 vintage due November 2026

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchots Dessous, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Pale lemon. Not showing too much on the nose, perhaps slightly more austere. Mid lemon, with a fractional reduction which I am told was more apparent before. The best aspect is the tension on the palate, but not quite so much tension at the finish. Still very good but I have so many favourites here. Drink from 2028-2032. Tasted Oct 2025. 90-92 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Grands Clos 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
The range is starting to get serious now! Still the same lemon-yellow colour. The nose has a steely bite to it. This really does build on the palate, joining a sense of hillside nobility to Morgeot body. Pure white fruit, well allied to its oak, and the apples are pleasingly ripe. An extremely long finish. This comes from 40-year-old vines which are no longer over producing. Very good indeed. Drink from 2029-2034. 93-95 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Fairendes 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Pale lemon colour. The nose is a bit more supple than Grands Clos, more refined. Some citrus notes, but the zest is ripe enough. Bastien suggests “Les huiles d’agrumes”, essential citrus oils. Very classy indeed, with a long drawn out finish. The pure orchard fruit has a deceptive tensile strength. Fine finish. Drink from 2029-2034. Star rating: 5, 94-95 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Full lemon colour. Very distinguished nose. The stones are present but there is a substantial covering of fruit at perfectly judged ripeness. I want to keep smelling rather than start tasting. The same reflex in the mouth between the juicily ripe yet still very fresh fruit, ripe lemon skins and the minerals below backed by good acidity. Dances back even a minute or two after swallowing. Drink from 2029-2035. Star rating: 5, 94-97 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchots Dessus 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Mid lemon yellow. A suave white fruit power, very glossy compared to the hillside wines, clearly a liaison with the neighbouring grand cru. Plums, a faint suggestion of peaches, but we have clearly moved away from the apple and lemon style. Even so some ripe citrus. A plush style of wine. Drink from 2029-2034. 92-95 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Oct. 2025

2024 Chassagne-Montrachet Dent de Chien 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Pale lemon. Magnificent chiselled elegance on the nose. Picked first but not before the others. There is flesh too on the palate, and a touch of liquorice. Fascinatingly complex, a fine mineral acid backbone as well. Remarkably long. Two barrels, one new from highly praised artisan cooper Eric Millard. Drink from 2030-2036. 94-96 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025.

2024 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Two barrels, one new. Deeper in colour, a little more oak showing (partly a question of the cooper, Cavin, according to Bastien) but also a wealth of fruit. A touch of sandalwood. This is how I like my Bâtard. There is none of the soft clumsy aspect, and Bâtard is not expected to be ethereal, but the fruit comes to you in waves, each one a delight in itself. A really gorgeous long finish. Drink from 2030-2036. 95-97 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, October 2025

2023 vintage SOLD OUT

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchots Dessous, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Pale lemon yellow. The bouquet suggests weight but does not add other detail, as yet. Broader shouldered up front with a lemony note behind, satisfying and succulent but I think I shall prefer Masures when that settles down. Saline note to finish. Rebounds at the end. Drink from 2027-2035. Tasted Oct 2024. 91-93 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Grands Clos 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
An even mid yellow. This is another wine with a tannic touch, plus a slightly yellower fruit. Quite powerful on the palate, all a little bit unformed this early but with good potential. Drink from 2028-2038. Tasted Oct 2024. 92-94 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Fairendes 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
They are Chassagne end, homogenous plot. Pale lemon colour. Here the nose has a sense of lifted energy alongside then weight of Morgeot. Quintessence of Chassagne for Bastien and consistent every year. Ripe grapefruit and a texture which makes one salivate. Finesse too. Pretty spectacular potential. Drink from 2029-2040. Tasted Oct 2024. 93-96 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024  Star rating: 5

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Very much Caillerets style even if a touch lighter and fresher. More the feel of a limestone bench than stony. Builds the complexity on the second half of the palate. Rediscover the wine at the back. Drink from 2029-2038. Tasted Oct 2024. 93-95 points, Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchots Dessus 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Mid lemon yellow. A solid bouquet, one of the richer ones and showing the oak a touch more. Two plots, then this lovely minerality behind. This really has a great deal going on and keeps pushing further at the back of the palate. Bastien has loved this wine from the start” Its Blanchots’ turn this year”. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted Oct 2024. 95-97 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024 Star rating:  5 

2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Dent de Chien 1er Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Picked two days before the main crop, along with Bâtard, which doesn’t usually happen at the same time. One of the paler colours, the nose not yet quite in place, then a blinding and delicious minerality with pure white fruit which drives the finish. Startling and very persistent. Drink from 2030-2040. Tasted Oct 2024. 94-96 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024.

2023 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay
Mid lemon yellow. Here it is the weight of the appellation which takes the upper hand at the start, making quite a statement. One new barrel, and one 350 litre from one year old wood. The extra oak sits just fine with this wine. The fruit, tending towards the yellow plum, flows across the palate with weight and power yet also definition. Exactly what a top Bâtard should be, with no excess sucrosity. Drink from 2032-2045. Tasted Oct 2024. 96-98 points. Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy, Dec 2024 Star rating:  5 

The vines of the Coffinet-Duvernay estate
White wines
Aligote
Aligoté from the Coffinet-Duvernay estate comes from plots of vines located at the bottom of Chassagne-Montrachet. They are considered old vines since they are over 60 years old on average. They are pruned in Cordon, which is atypical for white and the yields are very low for an Aligoté, between 30 and 40 hectoliters/hectare (compared to 60 normally). These low yields melt as the grapes mature quickly, are very concentrated and rich, which produces a magnificent bottle. The estate produces around 1,500 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet village
This bottle is composed of a blend of 3 different plots. We find there “Les Houillères” located on the border with Puligny-Montrachet, “Les Voillenot” which are under the 1er cru “Maltroie” and “Les Masures” which are just under the 1er cru “Les Champs Gain”. The blend is made in equal parts, 1/3 of each plot. The vines are on average 40 years old but some were recently replanted 15 years ago. The estate produces around 3,000 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchot Dessous village
Although this appellation is a "simple" village, the grapes for this vine come from a plot located just at the end of the emblematic "Criots-Batard". As you will have understood, the terroir of this village appellation is exceptional. The vines planted there are old with an average age of between 60 and 70 years. Yields are low, between 30 and 40 hl/ha compared to the 57 authorized. The estate produces around 3,500 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet La Matroie 1er cru
The estate has two different plots of this appellation, one of which is located directly in the garden of the estate. This generally ripens faster than the other plots because it is protected and enclosed by walls. The vines there are on average 50 years old and yields are always under control. About 40 hl/ha against the 55 authorized. The estate produces around 1,200 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champs Gain 1er cru
This plot is located at the end of the “Champs Gain” when we leave the village, next to the “Fairendes”. It is stuck to the appellations "La Maltroie" and "Les Caillerets" and has a very rich terroir. The vines planted there are on average 50 years old and yields are always under control. The estate produces between 1 and 2 pieces per year, i.e. 600 bottles.

Chassagne-Montrachet Clos Saint-Jean 1er cru
This appellation located on the heights of Chassagne-Montrachet is generally better known for its red wines which are the majority there. Planted in chardonnay, this gives us a floral and light white wine. The vines are 50 years old on average. The estate produces around 900 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Grand Clos & Les Fairendes 1er cru
These two plots are located in the "Morgeot" climate and are each positioned opposite to the climate but are very different. This is why the Coffinet-Duvernay estate has decided to make two distinct cuvées. "Les Fairendes" is a fine, saline wine with lemony notes, which will be easy to drink when young, while "Les Grands Clos" is a more raw, rich and fleshy wine which will be more difficult to drink young. It is similar in taste to the appellation “Les Caillerets”. The estate produces around 2800 bottles on average per year for “Les Grands Clos” and 3000 bottles for “Les Fairendes”

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er cru
This plot is located on the heights of the village, more exactly on the place called "Les Combards", it is the highest plot of the appellation, surrounded by woods, which generates a micro climate. The vines are planted in very stony soil and are very old, around 80 years old. They are cordon pruned, which is normally a size more suited to Pinot Noir. The estate produces around 1,500 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Blanchots Dessus 1er cru
This plot is very well located and enjoys a terroir that is both magnificent and complex since it is planted on the scree of Montrachet, THE most sought-after Grand Cru of the Côte de Beaune. The vines are on average 40 to 50 years old. The estate produces around 1,800 bottles on average per year.

Chassagne-Montrachet Dent de Chien 1er cru
This vine also enjoys an exceptional terroir since it is located in the extension of the "Montrachet", just above and is at the same level as the Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet. The plot is positioned against a cliff and faces south. The soil is shallow and due to their exposure, the vines suffer very quickly from the heat. It is for this reason that the “Dents de Chien” are harvested earlier each year than the other vines of the estate. Its location makes it a very mineral and ripe wine. Yields are low, the estate produces about 600 bottles on average per year.

Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
This parcel of Grand Cru vines is located along the Bâtards, it starts from the “Vide Bourse” climate and goes up to the emblematic “Montrachet”. The vines are on average 30 years old and planted on poor soil, stony but which requires little tillage because it is self-sufficient. The estate produces around 600 bottles on average per year.

Red wines
Chassagne-Montrachet
This is a brand new cuvée produced by the estate for the first time in 2021. It is composed of a blend of grapes from several plots of vines present in the lower part of the village of Chassagne-Montrachet.

Chassagne-Montrachet Les Voillenots du Dessus
This village appellation comes from a parcel of vines located quite close to the “Maltroie”. This is one of the highest plots, stuck to the village which is not a 1er cru. The vines are on average 50 years old. They are installed on a rich, fatty soil and have a fairly low yield. The estate produces around 1,200 bottles on average per year.