2022 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis "Montée de Tonnerre", "Bougros", "Les Preuses" & "Valmur" Horizontal

“The holding sits on the marly vein up top on the crest, looking east south and west. Pure light yellow, Excellent tension, crystalline fruit coats the teeth, a solid mass which is currently very much more tightly coiled than most. Really kicks on. Ten years minimum please. Drink from 2032-2040+.” (07/2023)

“This sits at the top of the Valmur slope, but it surprisingly has a vein of clay soil, too, which contributes generously to this wine's fantastic palate density. It's loaded up with perfectly ripe fruits yet has plenty of palate architecture to boot. The flavors start with plumcot, feijoa and star fruit. The intensity of the crunch and length attest to this wine's ability to age to benefit.” (01/2024)

“Note: from a 1.1 ha parcel of vines that is close to Vaudésir and extends all the way from Grenouilles to the tree line at the top of the hill. Here too there is slightly more evident wood that stops short of fighting with the ripe aromas of various white orchard fruit scents that are nuanced by hints of tidal pool, algae and oyster shell. The denser, powerful and quite serious big-bodied flavors possess a gorgeous texture if not nearly the same level of refinement while displaying superb length on the robust finale. This firmly structured effort is also pretty much a textbook example. *Burghound Don't Miss!*” (08/2023)

“The 2022 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru is very closed on the nose, perhaps the most austere of William Fèvres' cuvées, steely and almost curmudgeonly at the moment. The palate is well-balanced with a palpable saline leaning, very estuarine in style, with touches of oyster shell towards the finish. The purists' choice. Superb. (NM)” (09/2023)

“Fèvre's Valmur plots lie over marly Kimmeridgian soils, with the emphasis here on freshness and a degree of austerity. Very dramatic, dense and concentrated on the palate, and which exudes purity and drive. A great success in 2022 and great ageing potential. (AH)” (10/2023)

“Aromas of white flowers, pear, apples, wet stone and oyster shell introduce the 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered wine that's pure and taut, with racy acids and a long, saline finish. The 2022 crop is the penultimate vintage of organic conversion for the 78-hectare Domaine William Fèvre, though it's actually the 16th year the estate has been practicing organic. It's a terrific success, exhibiting tension and precision that isn't universally to be taken for granted in this Chablis vintage. Beyond the quality of the wines themselves, the big news at this address, which has been managed with sagacity and competence by Didier Séguier since 1999, is its acquisition by Domaines des Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). I'm sure Fèvre couldn't have found a better steward for the future.(WK)” (03/2025)

“Tank sample. A little spicier than the Preuses. Complex with a light cedary side to the citrus fruit. Deep and creamy on the palate, rich and caressing yet shot through with a backbone of acidity. So creamy that you barely notice that mouth-watering acidity. 17.5/20 points (JH)” (01/2024)

“A stunning example, with finesse allied to power. Real tension and energy here. Will be approachable quite young, but really should be aged for over five years for the best result. Fèvre has 2.24ha within Montée de Tonnerre. Plots are located in Pied d'Aloup (facing east) with profound Kimmeridgian soils bringing freshness, Chapelot facing south on deep soil adding richness, and Côte de Brechain facing west on top of the hill with the oldest plots dating back to 1936. (AH)” (10/2023)

“From multiple plots: east facing kimmeridgian marl in Pied d’Aloue (0.50ha), one hectare in Chapelot, (more soil here, fatter wine), then the rest in Bréchain, where vines dating back to 1936, give tension. What a beautiful bouquet. This has the sensual aspect of a delightful sunny summer, yet with an entrancing freshness behind. This is quintessential right bank, yet with balance Drink from 2027-2037.” (07/2023)

“The 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre reveals aromas of orchard fruit, waxy citrus rind, white flowers and wet stones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered palate that's dense and deep. This is built for the cellar. The 2022 crop is the penultimate vintage of organic conversion for the 78-hectare Domaine William Fèvre, though it's actually the 16th year the estate has been practicing organic. It's a terrific success, exhibiting tension and precision that isn't universally to be taken for granted in this Chablis vintage. Beyond the quality of the wines themselves, the big news at this address, which has been managed with sagacity and competence by Didier Séguier since 1999, is its acquisition by Domaines des Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). I'm sure Fèvre couldn't have found a better steward for the future. (WK) 93+” (03/2025)

“An elegant, pure and wonderfully airy nose more freely reflects its aromas of white flowers, prominent mineral reduction and plenty of seashore elements. There is at once more volume but, somewhat surprisingly, even better refinement to the medium weight plus flavors that retain excellent detail while also flashing an almost pungent stoniness on the driving, firm and impeccably well-balanced finale. One to consider.” (10/2024)

“The 2022 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is more reticent on the nose and perhaps doesn't quite engage as the 2021 did last year. A bit bashful at the moment. The palate is well-balanced with a saline entry, though it feels strict and contained, without the flair demonstrated by the Les Lys at the moment. Has this got something up its sleeve? It's a bit too austere and reticent for my liking.(NM)” (09/2023)

“There’s tension between the plump texture and lively acidity in this white, leaving space in between for apple, lemon and seashore flavors. Everything comes together nicely on the brisk finish. Drink now through 2029.” (11/2025)

“Fresh pale green tint. Didier describes this as the entry level grand cru. The average age of the vines is at or above 60 years. There is admirable tension here, an electric start, more middleweight through the middle, then quite a powerful middle with decent dry extract, and good length. Keeps coming back. Drink from 2030-2040.” (07/2023)

“A charmer as ever, this is always a consistently over-performing Bougros. The vines were planted by William's father almost 60 years ago. Bold and open on the nose, there is good fleshiness on the palate, too. The counter-current of sassy acidity packages this into a charmingly balanced wine with an enviably long finish.” (01/2024)

“The 2022 Chablis Bougros Grand Cru, matured around one-third in used barrel, sports a subtle reduction on the nose that works to its favor: white flowers commingle with Mirabelle and crushed stone. The palate is well-balanced and precise, harmonious with orange pith and nectarine, just a touch of praline. It builds nicely in the glass and then slams its foot on the accelerator right on the finish as if to say: That's all for now. One for the patient amongst you.(NM)” (09/2023)

“Once again there is plenty of mineral reduction character suffusing the aromas of ripe pear, soft wood and tidal pool. The rich, full-bodied and overtly powerful broad-shouldered flavors are robust but not rustic on the bitter lemon, dry and balanced finale. This also needs more depth but that is virtually always the case with young Bougros.” (10/2024)

“Always one of the richer, rounder wines in the range, the 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros offers up notes of honeyed peaches, pear and wet stones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that's broad but saline. The 2022 crop is the penultimate vintage of organic conversion for the 78-hectare Domaine William Fèvre, though it's actually the 16th year the estate has been practicing organic. It's a terrific success, exhibiting tension and precision that isn't universally to be taken for granted in this Chablis vintage. Beyond the quality of the wines themselves, the big news at this address, which has been managed with sagacity and competence by Didier Séguier since 1999, is its acquisition by Domaines des Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). I'm sure Fèvre couldn't have found a better steward for the future.(WK)” (03/2025)

“Bougros, according to Didier Séguier, is the place for those who like lots of ripeness and not too much minerality. Quality has increased greatly here with reduced yields. Plenty of weight and ripeness but also with finesse and appeal. (AH)” (10/2023)

“Beautiful mix of richness, grace and drive. As always with Fèvre's Les Preuses, this is elegant, long-living and fine. Ultra-stylish and very mineral. From two sections of vines. One situated low down on Les Preuses next to Vincent Dauvissat's plot, on the flatter part facing south, the other on deeper soils, with both adding richness and totalling 2.5ha. (AH)” (10/2023)

“Such a fresh lime infused colour. The bouquet shows the soft creamy riches that you can find here in Les Preuses. There is plenty of bulk but the hectare plot which drops down into Vaudésir gives the mineral tension. A little lime and lemon coats the tongue at the finish. Drink from 2030-2040.” (07/2023)

“The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses wafts from the glass with aromas of orange zest, oyster liquor, brine and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, it's more and intensely mineral, underlining its role as the most ethereal of the grand cru climats. The 2022 crop is the penultimate vintage of organic conversion for the 78-hectare Domaine William Fèvre, though it's actually the 16th year the estate has been practicing organic. It's a terrific success, exhibiting tension and precision that isn't universally to be taken for granted in this Chablis vintage. Beyond the quality of the wines themselves, the big news at this address, which has been managed with sagacity and competence by Didier Séguier since 1999, is its acquisition by Domaines des Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). I'm sure Fèvre couldn't have found a better steward for the future.(WK)” (03/2025)

“This is a bright and crunchy Preuses with tangy pear peel, digestive cracker and plumcot. Elegance dominates power here, even though there is plenty of both. There is a nice combination of racy acidity and crunchy limestone lightness that makes this weightless yet profound. Hold on to this as long as you can.” (01/2024)

“This is showing peach, lemon-rind, hazelnut, pie-crust and spiced-apple aromas. It’s medium- to full-bodied with compact, concentrated and subtly nutty layers. Long and focused. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” (07/2024)

“The 2022 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru is not unlike the Valmur on the nose: backward and a little sultry in style, with faint touches of crustacea coming through. The palate is more generous with orchard fruit, hints of apricot and wild peach, and fine acidity. It is very harmonious but without quite the same complexity as the Valmur on the finish. Still, this should give many years of drinking pleasure.(NM)” (09/2023)

“Note: from two parcels of vines that total 2.55 ha, or 22% of the entire appellation. Here too there is an ever-so-mildly toasty nose which features perfumed notes of smoked grilled shellfish, pear and algae. The dense and equally serious larger-scaled flavors don't have quite the same power yet they are clearly more refined on the markedly bitter citrus zest finish that displays outstanding length. This is exceptionally classy and while it too could use more depth, that is all but assured if given a chance.” (10/2024)

“A firm mineral edge underscores the greengage, apple and floral aromas and flavors in this expressive white. The vibrant acidity keeps this focused and long, with orchard fruit and stone accents gracing the long aftertaste. Drink now through 2029.” (11/2025)

“Tank sample. Intense aroma of fresh pears, pure and open. Deeply fruited on the mid palate balanced by very good freshness. Persistent and with excellent tension. (JH) 17.5/20” (01/2024)