William Fèvre : Chablis Grand cru "Les Preuses" Domaine 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" Domaine 2020 by William Fèvre

Tasting Notes

Colour

The colour displays a pale yellow hue with golden highlights, bright and luminous, characteristic of a great unoaked white Burgundy.

Nose

The nose is initially discreet, gradually opening up to floral aromas accompanied by fruity notes of pear, white peach, lemon and ripe citrus. With aeration, an intense minerality emerges, evoking wet stone, shellfish and flint, enhanced by subtle smoky and spicy touches reminiscent of vanilla and liquorice.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a silky texture and a full structure, carried by a lively, racy acidity. The generous flavours of white-fleshed fruit and dried apricot are perfectly balanced by remarkable freshness and a deep saline minerality. The finish, compact and dry, lingers with elegance, leaving an impression of intensity and purity.

Food and Wine Pairings

This 2020 Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, turbot or halibut. It also makes a superb match with creamy poultry dishes, mature goat's cheese or Comté. Fish dishes in creamy sauces and sushi are likewise excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

This Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" Domaine William Fèvre 2020 can be enjoyed now but has exceptional ageing potential up to around 2050. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

The Liveliness and Structure of a Chablis Grand Cru

The Estate

Founded in 1959, Domaine William Fèvre has established itself as an essential reference in Chablis. With 70 hectares of vines, including plots in six of the seven Grands Crus, it ranks among the appellation's most important estates. Under the direction of Didier Séguier since 1998, the estate has undergone a major transformation towards organic and biodynamic viticulture, favouring the pure expression of terroir. Since January 2024, the domaine has belonged to Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, ensuring the continuity of this philosophy of excellence. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3 as early as 2015, the estate today embodies the qualitative pinnacle of northern Burgundy.

The Vineyard

This Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses spans 10.8 hectares with south and south-west exposure, benefiting from optimal sunshine. Domaine William Fèvre owns approximately 2.3 to 2.5 hectares here, spread across several plots located towards the top of the slope. The soils, composed of clay and limestone over a substrate of Kimmeridgian marl rich in 150-million-year-old oyster fossils, give the wine its characteristic minerality and remarkable ageing potential. The name "Les Preuses" comes from the old stony Roman road that once ran through this site.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage in Chablis was marked by early budbreak in mid-March, followed by an early flowering. Dry, warm weather set in from June onwards, with a heatwave from late June to early July. This early heat slowed the ripening of the grapes, keeping the berries small with thick skins. August, milder than 2019 with some strategically timed rainfall, allowed ripening to continue while preserving excellent acidity. Harvest began on 24 August, one of the earliest dates in the estate's history, yielding healthy, concentrated grapes with yields 20 to 30% below normal.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes for the Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" Domaine William Fèvre 2020 were hand-harvested and meticulously sorted. Each of the estate's 130 plots was vinified separately to preserve the expression of each microterroir. Fermentation took place without the use of new oak, in used French oak barrels. This Burgundy wine was then aged on fine lees for around 18 months, benefiting from malolactic fermentation which enriched its texture while maintaining its freshness.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay