Kevin O'Connell wrote:I picked up a batch of Chablis a while back from the maker of my favorite Chablis, Renee & Vincent Dauvissat. This batch was imported by Alleyn (?) Scott, from a "private cellar". The upper labels state Renee & Vincent Dauvissat but the front label states E.A.R.L. Dauvissat. I'm thinking this Earl is from the wrong side of the tracks as every bottle could have been any Chablis just shoved in oak that had been cut down the day before. This particular bottle said it was an '01 Les Clos, not bad you might think? God awful wood upon wood that never had a chance at shedding with nothing decernable underneath the floorboards. I hope Earl meets an untimely end to his winemaking career. I fear there may be another of these abominations in cellar. To make amends to my wife I've promised to open my last '00 Preuses, my favorite white, Chablis and probably wine of all time. No Earl anywhere on the label.
Kevin
Well this certainly doesn't sound like the Duke of Earl
But as you may know an EARL [exploitation agricole à responsabilité limitée] is just a French legal entity for a limited liability farm corporation.
The other 2 designations that fall into the second [of 3] category of agricultural businesses are the SCEA and GAEC - so I don't think the EARL designation is a reason to doubt the authenticity of the wine since Dauvissat's wine business may well be an EARL. It would certainly be logical.
However as you will know there are two quite separate Dauvissat producers [R&V and J&S] although your upper label suggests that you have the much more famous one.
The excess of oak in a R&V Dauvissat Les Clos is a great disappointment although I suppose these days, with Chablis producers pretty easy on the oak, it is the Grand Crus that see any new oak that's introduced. Perhaps it is just an aberration
I hope your Les Preuses is all you expect, with or without the EARL.
I had a 2000 Domaine Fevre Les Preuses the other day which was simply delicious. Good luck
