Saint-Bris Les copains d'abord 2024 Domaine Clement Lavallée

The Saint-Bris Les Copains d'Abord 2024 from Domaine Clément Lavallée is the domaine's most joyful and convivial expression, proof that Saint-Bris, Burgundy's sole appellation for Sauvignon Blanc, can achieve a complexity, minerality and finesse that rivals the finest Sauvignon of France. Named after a Georges Brassens song, it celebrates the idea that the best wines are shared without ceremony. Here Sauvignon Blanc takes centre stage, an original choice in Burgundy, revealing itself as complex, mineral and refreshingly tense.

Terroir and vineyard

Saint-Bris is Burgundy's only appellation permitting Sauvignon Blanc production, a historical and geological peculiarity that makes this Yonne village a precious anomaly in a region dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Lavallée's one hectare parcel sits on a gently sloping plateau facing west, planted with vines aged 35 to 40 years from plantings between 1985 and 1990. The shallow argilo-silty soils rest on Kimmeridgian limestone rich in marine fossils, imparting natural minerality, tension and freshness that defines every glass. Viticulture proceeds without insecticides or herbicides. Selection at pressing is rigorous: Clément keeps only the first 40 per cent of juice, selling the rest in bulk to guarantee elegance. Vinification includes pneumatic pressing, static settling, natural and complete alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in neutral oak, then 11 months ageing on fine lees in 228 and 350 litre casks, light bentonite fining, bottling without filtration, and minimal sulphur added at bottling.

Tasting profile

The robe is pale gold with green glints, limpid and crystalline. The nose opens with immediate expressiveness and freshness: aromas of grapefruit, mandarin, peach and green lemon arrive with spontaneity and generosity, joined by notes of gooseberry, green apple, white flowers and a saline, mineral touch that speaks directly of the Kimmeridgian signature. Ageing in older oak brings a gentle note of toast and lemon oil, enriching the bouquet with welcome complexity without masking the purity of the variety. On the palate, the wine is persuasive and elegant: medium to full body, ample and silky, driven by lively, precise acidity that structures the whole with momentum and salinity. The finish is long, salivating and mineral, with a persistence and freshness that confirm the potential of this discreet appellation in capable hands.

The domaine

Born in 1987 within Saint-Bris's viticultural tradition, Domaine Grand Roche took root when Erick Lavallée planted his first vines on the eponymous lieu-dit. Since 2021, his children Caroline and Clément continue the family story with passion across 14.5 hectares between the Auxerrois and Chablisien. After viticulture and oenology studies and eight years working with Armand Heitz, Chapoutier and Château Margaux, Clément returned to Saint-Bris with a clear vision: straightforward, pure wines without affectation, born from respectful viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking.

Food pairing

This Saint-Bris Les Copains d'Abord pairs beautifully with shellfish, oysters, grilled fish, butter-poached grey shrimp, sea bass tartare with citrus, fresh goat cheese or lightly aged Crottin de Chavignol. Its natural vivacity and mineral freshness also make it an ideal aperitif, best enjoyed chilled between 10 and 12°C among friends, in the joyful and unpretentious spirit that lies at the heart of this cuvée.