2019 Chablis

William’s father planted some of these vines in 1948. Since then, the domaine has expanded its holdings, and is now the largest owner of Chablis’ greatest site. They are at the top of the hill, in a cool site, where the best soils are found. This is, simply put, a fully realised expression of everything that you could hope for from William Fèvre and the greatest site in Chablis.

40 parcels scattered across 46 hectares go into this blend, which is open, flinty, fruity, and charming. With yields down 30-50% across the various parcels, there won’t be much available this year.

This comes from the parcel at the bottom of the slope, by the river. Its soil always lends wines lots of saltiness and minerality, Didier says. In 2019 it has superb freshness, with a tight, green apple energy and tremendous length. Persistent and tingling, with some attractive bitterness just at the edge.

Vaillons is a warm, sunny premier cru, and Fèvre has 3.5 hectares plum in the middle of the slope. Their 55 year old vines produce concentration and ripeness in the wine. The 2019 has thrilling acidity to balance the ripe white fruit of the palate. They picked early here, and have captured the vibrant energy of the vintage.

Bright and zippy, this is the freshest and zingiest of the Fèvre grands crus. The amphitheatre-like shape of the vineyard is a sun trap, and as a result this is always one of the first picked sites. In 2019 it has richness and a full, aromatically expressive minerality, with a green apple edge on the palate. They picked at just the right moment.

Three parcels are blended here, creating a complex and crystalline wine. Some of the vines were planted in 1936, and these add beautiful freshness along with density of fruit. It is restrained, taut, sea-salty fresh, and long. It is a highlight amongst a stellar set of wines. This is every inch a premier cru, if not even a little grand cru.

William’s father planted some of these vines in 1948. Since then, the domaine has expanded its holdings, and is now the largest owner of Chablis’ greatest site. They are at the top of the hill, in a cool site, where the best soils are found. This is, simply put, a fully realised expression of everything that you could hope for from William Fèvre and the greatest site in Chablis.

William’s father planted some of these vines in 1948. Since then, the domaine has expanded its holdings, and is now the largest owner of Chablis’ greatest site. They are at the top of the hill, in a cool site, where the best soils are found. This is, simply put, a fully realised expression of everything that you could hope for from William Fèvre and the greatest site in Chablis.

This has a gorgeous nose of sweet, floral fruit. It seems so harmonious, but is actually a blend of two parcels, one adding freshness and tension, the other depth and richness. They are matched so seamlessly that the overall effect is of a mellifluous and complete wine. Elegant, pure, deep, rich, fresh, and arrestingly beautiful.

This has a gorgeous nose of sweet, floral fruit. It seems so harmonious, but is actually a blend of two parcels, one adding freshness and tension, the other depth and richness. They are matched so seamlessly that the overall effect is of a mellifluous and complete wine. Elegant, pure, deep, rich, fresh, and arrestingly beautiful.

William Fèvre owns half of this grand cru, so it’s no wonder theirs is the best example you will find. The deeper clay soils make a wonderfully early drinking style, with all the power and finesse you would expect from a grand cru. Ripe, lush, approachable, and very temptingly priced for a wine of this level.

Vaulorent is technically part of Fourchaume, the largest premier cru in Chablis. It is also usually the ripest, but the site is highly heterogeneous, and Vaulorent is undoubtedly the best parcel within, and the only one on the same hill as the grand cru. It has very chalky soil and produces a wine of power and silky tension. The 2019 is so stylish, it seems weightless, yet its long finish shows such vibrant concentration. Outstanding.

These 60 year old vines in Mont de Milieu are prone to millerandages, and so always produce small yields, which is particularly the case in 2019. There is astounding power and energy here, with plump fruit and zinging freshness, with a fine, salty finish. Wonderful.