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

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for the 2020 Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" Domaine from William Fèvre

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a pale yellow hue with golden highlights, bright and luminous, characteristic of a great unoaked white wine from Burgundy.

Nose

The nose is initially discreet, then gradually opens onto floral aromas alongside fruity notes of pear, white peach, lemon and ripe citrus. With aeration, an intense minerality emerges, evocative of wet stone, shellfish and flint, enhanced by subtle smoky and spicy touches reminiscent of vanilla and licorice.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a satiny texture and a full, well-built structure, carried by a lively, racy acidity. Generous flavors of white-fleshed fruit and dried apricot are perfectly balanced by remarkable freshness and a deep saline minerality. The finish, compact and dry, lingers elegantly, 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 pairs splendidly with chicken in a cream sauce, aged goat cheeses or Comté. Fish in creamy sauces and sushi are also excellent matches.

Serving and cellaring

This 2020 Chablis Grand Cru "Les Preuses" Domaine William Fèvre can be enjoyed now, but offers outstanding cellaring potential until around 2050. It is best served at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

The vibrancy and structure of a Chablis Grand Cru

The estate

Founded in 1959, Domaine William Fèvre has established itself as a benchmark in Chablis. With 70 hectares of vineyards, including parcels in six of the seven Grands Crus, it is one of the leading estates in the appellation. Under the direction of Didier Séguier since 1998, the property has undergone a major transformation toward organic and biodynamic viticulture, favoring the pure expression of terroir. Since January 2024, the estate has belonged to the 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 now embodies the pinnacle of quality in northern Burgundy.

The vineyard

This Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses spans 10.8 hectares with southern and southwestern exposure, benefiting from optimal sunshine. Domaine William Fèvre owns around 2.3 to 2.5 hectares, divided into several parcels located near the top of the slope. The soils, composed of clay and limestone over a substrate of Kimmeridgian marls rich in oyster fossils dating back 150 million years, give the wine its hallmark minerality and remarkable aging potential. The name "Les Preuses" comes from the old stony Roman road that once crossed this site.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Chablis was marked by early budbreak in mid-March, followed by advanced flowering. Dry, hot weather set in from June onward, with a heatwave from late June to early July. This early heat slowed grape ripening, keeping berries small with thick skins. August, more temperate than in 2019 with a few well-timed rains, allowed ripening to continue while preserving excellent acidity. Harvest began on August 24, one of the earliest dates in the estate’s history, yielding healthy, concentrated grapes, with yields 20 to 30% below normal.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the 2020 Chablis Grand cru "Les Preuses" Domaine William Fèvre were harvested by hand and meticulously sorted. Each of the estate’s 130 parcels was vinified separately to preserve the expression of each micro-terroir. Fermentation took place without the addition 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 that enriched its texture while maintaining its freshness.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay