Domaine William Fèvre
About Domaine William Fèvre
Founded and extensively developed by the eponymous William Fèvre between 1957 until his retirement in 1998, this Domaine’s wines are amongst the most sought-after and frankly exceptional in the entirety of Chablis, a region populated by more than its fair share of great labels.
A measure of the ambition and vision of the estate’s founding father, Fèvre began with a modest 7 hectares of Chardonnay vines spread across Chablis. By the time of his selling to Maison Joseph Heriot (of Champagne fame) in 1998, his eponymous Domaine was comprised of 48 hectares dotted around the very greatest Grands and 1er Crus.
The change in ownership heralded the arrival of Didier Séguier, previously of Bouchard in Beaune, a vigneron who has subsequently shepherded Domaine William Fèvre to new and breath-taking heights, building on the extraordinary work of its founder. Overseeing a continuation of practices such as pure hand-harvesting, Séguier is also working hard to shift the Domaine to fully biodynamic methods in order to extract the full potential of the exceptional terroir at his disposal. The most immediately noticeable development in these wines, however, is the reduction in new oak.
Always a controversial topic, especially in Chablis known for its crisp salinity and pure minerality, William Fèvre’s penchant for new oak drew as many detractors as ardent fans. Today, no new oak at all is used in the various cuvées, but rather Séguier utilises his former employers Bouchard as a supplier of one year old barrels to be used in a ratio of up to 80% for those Grands Crus which can take it.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Burgundy | 1 | 95 (VN) | HK$4,100.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2017 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru shows why this site is so highly regarded. Even with all of the challenges of the growing season, all of the personality of this 1er Cru comes through loud and clear. Pale in color yet remarkably deep, the 2017 offers up a compelling mélange of citrus and orchard fruits perked up by bright acids and striking floral overtones. Weightless yet powerful, with explosive energy and superb balance, the 2017 Clos is fabulous. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (DC) | HK$3,595.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)Now made separately from Fèvre's Fourchaume bottling - it's technically part of the same large premier cru - this has the structure and complexity of a top grand cru. It's powerful yet fresh, with impressive density and notes of aniseed and citrus peel. |
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Burgundy | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$5,120.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2017 Chablis Bougros Côte Bouguerots Grand Cru is mind-bending. Usually a more powerful Chablis, in 2017 the Côte Bouguerots is airy, weighty and beautifully lifted, with pretty floral and saline notes that confer a great deal of freshness. The 2017 opens up beautifully with time in the glass, showing tons of volume and resonance, all retaining its bright, sculpted personality. |