William Fèvre : Chablis 1er cru "Vaulorent" Domaine 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Chablis 1er cru "Vaulorent" Domaine 2020 from William Fèvre

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a pale yellow hue with crystalline highlights, characteristic of a young, elegant Chablis.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, with notes of citrus (lemon zest, tangy orange) and white-fleshed fruit (white peach, pear). Floral aromas of white flowers and lily of the valley mingle with distinctive mineral nuances evocative of chalk, flint and oyster shells. Hints of beeswax add an extra dimension, while iodine and saline notes recall the seashore.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows beautiful concentration while retaining freshness and vibrancy. The attack is energetic, driven by a vibrant acidity that structures the whole. The palate reveals flavors of citrus and white-fleshed fruit, supported by a saline minerality that lends tension and length. The texture is generous, with a medium to full body that reflects the richness of the marl terroir. The finish lingers elegantly, leaving persistent mineral notes with subtle toasty and iodine accents.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis 1er cru "Vaulorent" 2020 pairs naturally with fresh oysters, creating perfect harmony between the wine’s minerality and the iodine character of shellfish. It also goes beautifully with seafood, pan-seared scallops, simply prepared lobster, or white fish with beurre blanc. For more elaborate pairings, this wine matches harmoniously with creamy poultry dishes, mushroom-based preparations, foie gras terrine, or asparagus with Hollandaise sauce. Mediterranean dishes with olives and fresh herbs also make excellent companions.

Serving and cellaring

This Chablis 1er cru "Vaulorent" 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. While approachable now, this wine will benefit from cellar aging and can improve through around 2050, developing more complex tertiary aromas over time. An optimal drinking window opens from 2025-2026 onward.

A Chablis premier cru with grand cru overtones, a pure expression of the Kimmeridgian terroir

The estate

Founded in 1959, Domaine William Fèvre now stands as the leading owner of grand cru vineyards in Chablis. Since 1998, Didier Séguier has managed this 70-hectare estate spread across 90 parcels, including 15.2 hectares of grands crus and 15.9 hectares of premiers crus. A pioneer in organic viticulture as early as 2000 and biodynamics since 2010, the estate earned Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3 certification in 2014, becoming the first Chablis estate to receive this distinction. In January 2024, Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite acquired the property, marking the group’s entry into Burgundy while keeping Didier Séguier at the helm. The estate stands out for its minimalist winemaking philosophy, aimed at expressing the purity of the Kimmeridgian terroir without the use of new oak.

The vineyard

The Climat Vaulorent occupies a unique position in Chablis: it is the only premier cru located directly on the grand cru hillside, separated from the grand cru Les Preuses by a simple path. Domaine William Fèvre owns 3.63 hectares here, spread across eight parcels on the eastern slope of the vineyard, making it the largest holding in this Climat. The vines, averaging 25 to 30 years of age, are planted on soils rich in marl and Kimmeridgian limestone containing abundant fossilized oyster shells dating back 150 million years. The southwest exposure ensures optimal sunshine, while the proximity of the Serein River brings a microclimatic freshness that preserves the acidity characteristic of Chablis wines. Planting density, between 5,500 and 6,500 vines per hectare, promotes concentration and the expression of terroir.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Chablis proved paradoxical, combining heat and dryness while producing wines with a classic, fresh profile. The growing season benefited from favorable conditions, with healthy, concentrated grapes thanks to yields naturally limited by water stress and pre-harvest winds. Harvest began on August 25, matching the exceptional earliness of 2003. Despite July’s intense sunshine, the vintage preserved remarkable freshness thanks to gradual ripening and the small berry size. Meticulous ripeness checks across the estate’s 130 parcels made it possible to determine the optimal picking date, preserving the acidity essential to expressing terroir. According to Didier Séguier, 2020 combines “the freshness of 2017 and the concentration of 2019,” creating a rare balance between liveliness and aromatic intensity.

Winemaking and aging

After hand-harvesting and rigorous berry sorting, the Chablis 1er cru "Vaulorent" 2020 underwent static cold settling for about twelve hours. Alcoholic fermentation occurred naturally in stainless steel tanks and used French oak barrels, without excessive handling or temperature control. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in full. Aging continued for thirteen to fourteen months, including five to six months on fine lees in oak barrels exclusively six to seven years old, with no new oak at all. This approach preserves the mineral purity of the Kimmeridgian terroir by avoiding any marked oak influence. The remainder of the aging took place in stainless steel tanks. Bottling occurred in March 2022 with Diam technical corks to ensure optimal evolution.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay