Delivering scents of orange oil, white flowers and oyster shell, the 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, with racy acids and a saline finish, showing little trace of the hot, sunny vintage. As usual, it's derived from old vines in Les Minots (that are a source for the Fèvre massal selection), as well as holdings in Roncières and Chatains. 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)

Note: from a huge 3.5 ha holding that is composed by <75% of Vaillons proper with the remainder from Roncières, Mélinots and Châtains. This is also aromatically cool and almost as reticent with its airy aromas of white pepper, mineral reduction, essence of pear and a suggestion of wood influence. The gorgeously textured medium weight flavors possess an even more developed sense of refinement while exhibiting fine length on the quinine, stony and bitter lemon zest-suffused finale. This is lovely and a Vaillons of finesse in 2022. *Burghound Outstanding!*

Typical Vaillons perfume and freshness. Precise but with good weight and precision. A classy Vaillons which will drink well when young but will also age. Fèvre owns 3.5ha, with 50% in Vaillons, and the rest spread between Chatains, Roncière and Melinots. Early harvest here. (AH)