Domaine de l'Enclos

History of Domaine de l'Enclos

Domaine de l'Enclos is a rising star of the Chablis vineyard, but its roots run deep in the region's winemaking history. Founded by brothers Romain and Damien Bouchard, fourth generation winemakers, the estate is built on a family heritage that began in the 1950s with their grandparents, Gabrielle and André Tremblay. They planted emblematic vines, notably in the prestigious Grand Cru Les Clos in 1964. Their father, Pascal Bouchard, managed a renowned négociant house until its sale in 2015, leaving the brothers a winemaking heritage of 29 hectares.

In 2016, Romain and Damien combined their talents to create an estate in their image, blending rigor, passion and respect for nature. Installed in a majestic 19th-century property, former residence of the monks of Pontigny Abbey, the estate was equipped with a partially underground cellar, designed for gravity-fed winemaking respectful of the grapes. This new era marked the beginning of an adventure where tradition and innovation meet to produce organic wines of exceptional quality, quickly recognized as a reference in Chablis.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine de l'Enclos

Domaine de l'Enclos extends over 29 hectares, covering the four appellations of Chablis: Petit Chablis (1.7 ha), Chablis (approximately 12 ha), Premiers Crus (8 ha) and Grands Crus (1.5 ha). These vines, located in the communes of Chablis, La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne and Beine, benefit from Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils, rich in marine fossils, which give the wines their mineral signature and unique freshness. Among the exceptional terroirs are historic plots such as Les Clos, planted in 1964, or Vau de Vey, a fresh and promising Premier Cru.

Viticulture is at the heart of the Bouchard brothers' work. Certified organic since 2018, the vines are carefully cultivated according to respectful practices: Poussard pruning, organic fertilizers, scratching and seeding to preserve soil life. Treatments are limited to natural products such as copper, sulfur and plant preparations. The harvests, manual for Premiers and Grands Crus, guarantee rigorous grape selection, while some Chablis and Petit Chablis plots are mechanically harvested to optimize the harvest period. With a team of 18 people year-round, reinforced during harvests, the estate ensures the best is extracted from each plot.

Winemaking at Domaine de l'Enclos

The philosophy of Domaine de l'Enclos is based on natural and minimalist winemaking, aimed at expressing the purity of the terroir. Since 2016, the grapes have been vinified in a modern 450 m² gravity-fed cellar, partially underground, where temperatures are regulated to preserve the quality of the juices. Harvested at full maturity, the grapes are sorted on a vibrating table, pneumatically pressed, then the juices flow by gravity into stainless steel tanks or French oak barrels.

No inputs, except for a moderate addition of sulfur, are used during fermentation, which is carried out with indigenous yeasts to preserve the authenticity of the fruit. The wines are aged on fine lees for 10 to 18 months, in tanks for Chablis and Petit Chablis, and in barrels for Premiers and Grands Crus, offering increased complexity. Without fining or cold stabilization, the wines retain their natural character, with light filtration before bottling. This patient and respectful approach produces vibrant cuvées, balanced between richness, freshness and minerality.

The Cuvées of Domaine de l'Enclos

Domaine de l'Enclos offers a range of cuvées that celebrate the diversity of Chablis terroirs.

Petit Chablis (1.7 ha): From vines from the 80s on Portlandian soils, this gourmet and fragrant wine seduces with its freshness and fruity aromas. Ideal for drinking in its youth.

Chablis (approx. 12 ha): A blend of thirty-year-old plots, this Chablis offers a perfect balance between ripe fruit and minerality. To be enjoyed now or kept for a few years.

Chablis "Gabrielle" (2.5 ha): A tribute to the winemakers' grandparents, this cuvée comes from old vines planted in the 60s-70s in La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne. Hand-harvested and aged 14 months on lees in stainless steel tanks, it reveals complexity, structure and elegance, with notes of sautéed lemon and quince paste.

Chablis "A l'Ouest" (3 ha): From a south-facing limestone plot in Beine, this natural cuvée, vinified without added sulfur, is generous and tonic, perfect for lovers of vibrant and natural wines.

Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy (2.4 ha): Planted in 1980 on a steep slope near Lake Beine, this gourmet cuvée offers smoky notes and a mineral tension in the finish, ideal for accompanying seafood.

Chablis Premier Cru Vau de Vey (2.77 ha): Located on a steep east-facing slope, this organic plot since 2010 produces a fine and delicate wine, with marked freshness and aromas of green apple and oyster shells.

Chablis Premier Cru Montmains (0.56 ha): From 1971 vines, this solid and wild wine reveals iodine and smoky notes, with good length, perfect for aging.

Chablis Premier Cru Mont de Milieu (0.75 ha): Planted in 1995 on the upper slopes, this elegant and crystalline cuvée offers mineral and mentholated notes, ideal for lovers of refined Chablis.

Chablis Premier Cru La Fourchaume (1.01 ha): From three plots planted between 1986 and 2017, this fleshy and persistent wine reveals aromas of ripe fruits, perfect for aging a few years.

Chablis Premier Cru "La Fourchaume Dédé" (0.28 ha): From the estate's oldest vines (1960s), this prestigious cuvée, aged 14 months in barrels, is generous, complex and marked by citrus and mineral notes.

Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos (0.67 ha): Planted in 1964, this historic plot produces a complex wine with pronounced minerality, ideal for long aging in the cellar.

Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot (0.23 ha): From a small steep plot planted in 1982, this fine and floral cuvée is elegant and promises beautiful evolution after a few years.

Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir (0.57 ha): Located due south in the Vaudésir valley, this gourmet and complex cuvée, with notes of ripe fruits, is perfect for lovers of expressive Grands Crus.

Domaine de l'Enclos, driven by Romain and Damien Bouchard's vision, redefines excellence in Chablis wines. With organic viticulture, natural winemaking and deep respect for the terroir, each cuvée tells a unique story, blending family tradition and innovation. Whether you're looking for a fresh Petit Chablis, a complex Premier Cru or a Grand Cru for aging, Domaine de l'Enclos offers wines of exceptional quality at competitive prices. Explore our selection for online wine purchase and let yourself be seduced by the elegance and minerality of Chablis cuvées, available at the best price on Vins & Millésimes. Order now and immerse yourself in the authentic universe of Domaine de l'Enclos!