Chablis Tasting featuring William Fevre and Friends at Wine Watch

Coming from a family that has been in the Chablis region for more than 250 years, William Fèvre’s father was already a great wine-maker after World War II. His son William founded the Domaine de la Maladière and announced his first harvest in 1959.

For many years, William Fèvre (who to this day enjoys a very good reputation as a defender of historically renowned terroirs), has worked each plot keenly and skillfully so as to make wine whose personality reflects the authenticity of the soils from which they spring.

In 1998, the venerable Henriot family from Champagne succeeded him. To continue these focused efforts, the Domaine was taken up with the constant desire to make indisputably genuine and fine wines, and above all with bringing along a very personal expertise in Chardonnay. All the efforts have but one goal – to finely express the most subtle variations in the greatest Chablis crus.

This attachment to the value of the terroir has also allowed the William Fèvre Domaine to establish an exceptional estate by acquiring some of the best Chablis vineyards.

With its 47 hectares Domaine, of which more than half are in Chablis Premier Cru (12 hectares) and Grand Cru (15.2 hectares), William Fèvre owns the widest array of Grands Crus and benefits from ideal conditions to produce excellent Chablis.

Located on “historical” terroirs, dating from before the extension of the vineyard areas that occurred in the 1970’s, the William Fèvre Domaine is at the very heart of the vineyards, on soil that mixes marl and clay-rich lime, as well as a Kimmeridgian subsoil rich in minerals and oyster fossils that give Chablis its unique mineral character.

The Chablis terroirs constitute an ideal environment for the cultivation of Chardonnay but this special soil is not enough to elaborate exceptional wines. One needs all the know-how and experience that comes from men to help a terroir live up to its full potential, and to produce grapes and wines worthy of their appellations and faithful to their origins.

At William Fèvre, everything is done, to reach this goal. Grapes are hand-picked and put in small crates, the bunches are rigorously sorted out, pressings are short, the must carefully settled, and a fine balance is established, according to the vintage, for the vinification between vat and cask. Since the 1998 vintage, the proportion of new casks was reduced so as to not dampen the subtle variations of Chablis terroir. These methods and precautions allow us to obtain rich wines of a very high aromatic purity that hold on their typicity, whose principle characteristics are minerality and freshness.

2013 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux
Price: $23.00    Sale $20.24    Case $235

2013 William Fevre Chablis Montmains 1er Cru
Price: $50.00    Sale $44.00    Case $510

The first producer to pick in 2013 and this is one of my favorite houses in Chablis. This wine has that classic sea shell like minerality and lime citrus and green apple white flowers. A nice richness on the palate with tongue tingly minerality and a long zesty finish, that chalky sea shell mineral notes lasting through the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

2013 William Fevre Chablis Vaulorent 1er cru
Price: $73.00    Sale $64.24    Case $745

This premier cru is right next to the Grand Cru Les Preusses, this wine has a very pronounced chalky, sea shell briny mineral notes bright fresh lime and green apple fruit on the nose, a bit austere right now. Wonderful freshness on the tongue with bright lime citrus and a ton of that tongue tingly mineral nuance from the nose throught the finish. Finish 45+ Excellent +

2013 William Fevre Chablis Le Clos Grand Cru
Price: $129.25    Sale $113.74    Case $1319

A very intense bouquet of bright green lime blossom fruit with a strong briny mineral notes. A thick and viscous wine on the tongue with a nice bright and clean finish, this wine is still tightly wound and has a wonderful savoriness on the finish. Finish 50+ Most Excellent

Menu

Selection of Cheese: Triple Creme Brie, Epoisses, Chevre

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Lemongras Basil Ginger Chicken with Jamine Scented Rice and Baby Bok Choy

This is a sit down tasting with only 12 seats available, the fee for this event is $55 + tax.