2021 William Fevre Chablis
I’ll keep this short because you probably know Domaine William Fevre was recently purchased by the Rothschild family. They swooped in, paid an undisclosed sum and now are the owners of some of the finest vineyards in Chablis. Not much has changed in the way of winemaking or vineyard practices this past year as the new owners have kept everything pretty much status quo.
What wasn’t status quo was the weather in 2021. It was a vintage that was influenced tremendously by the spring frost which could have been the worst we have seen in a generation. I’ve said many times, quantities are the biggest challenge with this vintage. It could almost make a grown man cry because the tiny amount of wine produced is ABSOLUTELY FIRST RATE. The wines are tense, full of energy with outstanding freshness and length. Everything you could want in Chablis, just not enough. Wah.
“The wines are wonderfully pure with plenty of citrus and white fleshed fruit aromas allied with a palate impression that offers good precision, density and aging potential."
2021 William Fevre Chablis 1er Montee de Tonnerre
A discreet dollop of wood sets off the equally cool and perhaps even slightly more elegant aromas of acacia, citrus, seashore and oyster shell. The sleek and highly sophisticated medium-bodied flavors possess a really lovely texture while delivering superb length on the bitter lemon and mineral-suffused finish. This beautifully balanced effort is crystalline in its purity and a wine that should repay a decade plus of keeping.
- Burghound, 92-94 Sweet Spot Outstanding!
2021 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros
This is also aromatically reserved though determined swirling slowly reveals smoky aromas of green fruit, citrus and mineral reduction. The dense and very powerful big-bodied flavors flash plenty of muscle on the palate drenching and hugely long finish. This isn't refined, in fact it's rustic but it is undoubtedly impressive in its fashion.
- Burghound, 91-94
2021 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Valmur
This could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its nose of crushed algae, iodine, green fruit and shellfish. There is outstanding density to the broad-shouldered and muscular flavors that stain the palate while the abundant dry extract buffers the firm acid spine shaping the superbly long and highly complex finale. This is also extremely promising.
- Burghound, 93-95 Don't Miss!
2021 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Preuses
A deft application of wood frames the beautifully elegant nose of essence of pear, green apple, acacia blossom, lemon rind and a plethora of classic Chablis scents. The dense and unusually powerful large-scaled flavors don't have the muscle of the Valmur but they're finer, all wrapped in a massively persistent and even more complex finale. As good as the Valmur is, and it's wonderful, there is just a bit more here.
- Burghound, 93-96 Don't Miss!
2021 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
This too could be from nowhere else other than Chablis with its combination of strong mineral reduction, cool citrus, shellfish and iodine. The dense, opulent and powerful large-bodied flavors brim with dry extract that imparts a sappy texture to the lemony and massively long finish. Not surprisingly for a classic Les Clos, this super effort is very much built-to-age and a wine that I would advise not touching for at least 6 to 8 years first.
- Burghound, 93-96 Don’t Miss!
