Domaine Roland Lavantureux

The Lavantureux family has been growing vines in Lignorelles for at least eight generations. For a long time, winemaking was just part of mixed farming, and the wines were sold in barrels to merchants in Auxerre and Paris. That changed when Roland Lavantureux finished his wine education in Beaune and founded the domaine in 1978. In 1979, he became the first in the family to bottle the wines himself, giving his name to the estate. Together with his wife Brigitte, Roland expanded the property from 5 to 20 hectares and built sales in France and abroad.

The vineyards and terroir

Lignorelles sits a few miles northwest of Chablis, in the heart of the appellation. The vineyards are planted on the famous Kimmeridgian soils, ancient limestone and clay infused with tiny fossilized oysters from a prehistoric seabed. This unique terroir gives the wines their signature mineral tension and briny character. The estate now farms 20 hectares across the appellation, including parcels in premier cru sites like Vau de Vey, Beauroy, and Fourchaume, as well as grand cru vineyards like Vaudésir, Bougros, and Les Preuses. The family practices sustainable viticulture, paying close attention to natural biodiversity and avoiding pesticides entirely across the vineyards.

A new generation

In 2010, Roland's sons Arnaud and David took over the domaine. Arnaud handles the vineyards and cellar work, while David leads marketing and sales. The brothers have been recognized twice as Best Young Wine Producers in Burgundy. They've brought fresh energy to the estate, expanding the cellar in 2012 and adding new parcels, including vineyards in Bourgogne Tonnerre and Epineuil from their maternal grandparents' domaine. Their winemaking philosophy focuses on producing intensely mineral wines that reflect each specific vineyard site. They use a mix of stainless steel and older oak barrels, with some parcels seeing up to 50 percent barrel aging, adding complexity while preserving the pure Chablis character.

The wines

The domaine produces a complete range of Chablis, from Petit Chablis to grand cru. Their Petit Chablis is fresh and energetic, a perfect aperitif wine. The village Chablis shows classic minerality and citrus. Special cuvées like Vauprin and Vaux Carrés come from single parcels in Lignorelles, isolated and bottled separately to showcase their potential. The Vauprin, from a steep south-facing slope with vines ranging from 20 to 80 years old, rivals many premier crus in quality. The premier cru range includes Vau de Vey, known for its steely purity and saline energy, Beauroy with its round, ample character, and Fourchaume with its delicate floral notes. At the top, the grand crus Vaudésir, Bougros, and Les Preuses offer exceptional depth, combining rich texture with piercing minerality and impressive aging potential.