Domaine William Fèvre
About Domaine William Fèvre
Founded and extensively developed by the eponymous William Fèvre between 1957 until his retirement in 1998, this Domaine’s wines are amongst the most sought-after and frankly exceptional in the entirety of Chablis, a region populated by more than its fair share of great labels.
A measure of the ambition and vision of the estate’s founding father, Fèvre began with a modest 7 hectares of Chardonnay vines spread across Chablis. By the time of his selling to Maison Joseph Heriot (of Champagne fame) in 1998, his eponymous Domaine was comprised of 48 hectares dotted around the very greatest Grands and 1er Crus.
The change in ownership heralded the arrival of Didier Séguier, previously of Bouchard in Beaune, a vigneron who has subsequently shepherded Domaine William Fèvre to new and breath-taking heights, building on the extraordinary work of its founder. Overseeing a continuation of practices such as pure hand-harvesting, Séguier is also working hard to shift the Domaine to fully biodynamic methods in order to extract the full potential of the exceptional terroir at his disposal. The most immediately noticeable development in these wines, however, is the reduction in new oak.
Always a controversial topic, especially in Chablis known for its crisp salinity and pure minerality, William Fèvre’s penchant for new oak drew as many detractors as ardent fans. Today, no new oak at all is used in the various cuvées, but rather Séguier utilises his former employers Bouchard as a supplier of one year old barrels to be used in a ratio of up to 80% for those Grands Crus which can take it.
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(1x300cl) 2009Burghound (95)
Here the wood influence is somewhat more noticeable though not enough to materially detract from the otherwise pure, cool and high-toned white flower, stone and sea breeze suffused aromas that complement well the rich, powerful and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess fine focus and verve on the explosively long and oyster shell-infused finish. This is seriously impressive in absolute terms but especially so in the context of the vintage.$524.00 -
(1x600cl) 2009Burghound (95)
Here the wood influence is somewhat more noticeable though not enough to materially detract from the otherwise pure, cool and high-toned white flower, stone and sea breeze suffused aromas that complement well the rich, powerful and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess fine focus and verve on the explosively long and oyster shell-infused finish. This is seriously impressive in absolute terms but especially so in the context of the vintage.$1,040.00 -
(6x150cl) 2010Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2010 Chablis Les Clos is all about understatement and balance. White floral notes meld into white stone fruit in this utterly gracious Chablis. Clos can at times be fleeting and elusive, and there is certainly some of that in the 2010. Still, it is impossible to miss the wine’s textural finesse and sheer overall balance. I will not be surprised if the 2010 continues to get better in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2014+.$2,210.00 -
(1x75cl) 2012Burghound (96)
There is noticeable if discreet wood on the ripe and intensely floral nose that also reflects notes of pear, mineral reduction, white peach and algae. This is an imposingly scaled wine with its broad and muscular mouth feel that exudes a seemingly endless reserve of minerality on the almost painfully intense finish that delivers flat out amazing length. This is a very powerful wine that is akin to sucking on rocks it is so mineral-inflected. This too is positively brilliant.$169.00 -
(3x150cl) 2014Vinous (96)
Very pale lemon-green. Pure, discreet, thoroughly ripe aromas of lime confit, white flowers, wild herbs and crushed stone. Broad and ripe on the attack, but with a magically weightless impression and outstanding inner-mouth energy to the flavors of lime and orange zest, grapefruit, white flowers and minerals. Utterly seamless, densely packed Clos with great rising, palate-saturating length. William Fèvre owns eight parcels representing a total of four hectares of vines in this great site, mostly at the top of the cru.$1,190.00 -
Jancis Robinson (18)
Rich, creamy and full. While this still has a steely, flinty edge you’d expect from Chablis, this has the weight and power that says grand cru. Lovely length.$664.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos has turned out brilliantly, mingling aromas of orange oil, confit citrus and crisp green apple with notes of warm bread, white flowers, oyster shell and anise in an incipiently complex bouquet. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, it's concentrated and tightly wound, with broad shoulders and huge depth at the core, concluding with a long, electric finish. It was cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare.$254.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos has turned out brilliantly, mingling aromas of orange oil, confit citrus and crisp green apple with notes of warm bread, white flowers, oyster shell and anise in an incipiently complex bouquet. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, it's concentrated and tightly wound, with broad shoulders and huge depth at the core, concluding with a long, electric finish. It was cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare.$810.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
William's father planted these vines in 1947, 1948, 1950 and 1952. All are in the upper part of Les Clos. Their positioning simultaneously offers freshness and power. Yellow cherries, yellow tomatoes and summer herbs deliver a bold palate. It's a tsunami of flavor, and the structure is equally dominating. Give this time to harmonize further though it wouldn't disappoint if you sipped it now. 2026-45$700.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021Burghound (93-96)
Cool and strikingly elegant aromas include those of quinine, white peach, spice and an abundance of classic Chablis notes. The dense yet wonderfully refined medium-weight flavors brim with dry extract on the gorgeously long, balanced and highly complex finale. This is extremely stylish and very promising. (93-95)/2033+$145.00 -
Burghound (93-96)
Cool and strikingly elegant aromas include those of quinine, white peach, spice and an abundance of classic Chablis notes. The dense yet wonderfully refined medium-weight flavors brim with dry extract on the gorgeously long, balanced and highly complex finale. This is extremely stylish and very promising. (93-95)/2033+$320.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is a serious, structured wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe, waxy citrus rind, crisp orchard fruit and white flowers, framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, dense and satiny, it's layered, concentrated and multidimensional, with the most structure and substance of any wine in the range, but also the greatest need for patience to realize all its considerable potential.$635.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022
Wine Advocate (96+)
The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is a serious, structured wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of ripe, waxy citrus rind, crisp orchard fruit and white flowers, framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, dense and satiny, it's layered, concentrated and multidimensional, with the most structure and substance of any wine in the range, but also the greatest need for patience to realize all its considerable potential.$845.00 -
(1x300cl) 2023Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.$730.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.$165.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.$568.00 -
(6x150cl) 2023Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.$1,970.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Derived from over 70-year-old vines at the top of a south- and southeast-facing slope, the 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos opens with a deep bouquet of orange peel, Anjou pear, beeswax and jasmine, mingling with notes of warm stones. Full-bodied, multifaceted and layered, it is concentrated and enveloping, with a muscular core balanced by ample chalky extract that imparts a sensation of freshness, laden with racy acidity and culminating in a long, saline finish. Harmonious yet built for the long term, it will richly reward patience.$868 - $1,041
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Vinous (93)
Lemon, spice, anise and hazelnut on the complex nose, along with a suggestion of oyster shell. Then densely packed and sweet, with superb energy and cut. There's an almost iodiney reserve here, and yet the wine is almost accessible today owing to its juicy sweetness of fruit and silky texture. Very elegantly styled Chablis, less minerally and austere than the Valmur but with compelling richness for the vintage.$197.00 -
Vinous (94)
Bright, pale yellow-green. Knockout nose combines lime, metallic minerality and powdered stone. Wonderfully concentrated Preuses, offering a compelling combination of bracing citrus and mineral flavors and outstanding richness (the former coming from the southeast-facing vines and the latter from those facing west, notes director Stephane Follin-Arbelet). Wonderfully pure wine, finishing with outstanding cut, lift and length.$137.00 -
Vinous (93+)
Pale green-yellow color. Sexy, subtly perfumed nose offers lime and lemon zest, crushed stone and white pepper, plus a steely nuance. Sweet, supple and fine-grained; very suave and silky but still quite young, conveying a brooding impression of energy and a touch of spice. Best today on the very youthful, palate-dusting aftertaste. Compared to this bright and perfumed wine, the Bougros is almost exotic.$1,085.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2010 Chablis Les Preuses combines the minerality of Valmur and the fruit of Bouguerots in a style that is immensely appealing. The wine's balance is utterly impeccable throughout. This is one of those effortless, gracious wines that is easy to underestimate because the elements are so seamlessly woven together that nothing in particular stands out. I am blown away by the sheer balance, purity and harmony of what is in the glass. This is a great showing from Fevre and Didier Seguir.$151.00 -
(6x150cl) 2014
Vinous (95)
Bright pale yellow. Elegant, refined aromas of yellow peach, lime leaf and white flowers. Densely packed and urgent, conveying outstanding intensity but no undue weight to its flavors of stone fruits, flowers and yeasty, iodiney oyster shell. Subtle treble notes of lime and mint lift the nose and palate. Wonderfully complex, silky, classy wine with a very long, seamless, subtly mounting finish. Séguier figures he'll like this wine best in 5 to 10 years but believes it will still be outstanding in 15.$1,945.00 -
(1x75cl) 2015
Vinous (94)
Pale, bright yellow. More feminine on the nose than the Valmur, offering aromas of citrus fruits, pear and white flowers plus a soupçon of oak spice. Very silky, seamless and refined but also shows terrific intensity and floral lift. Harmonious acidity leavens the density of this wine, giving it an almost weightless impression in the mouth. Perfectly integrated and balanced from the start. The impressively long, rising finish features piquant notes of citrus peel, minerals and flowers. I'd give this fine-grained beauty a good five years in the cellar before pulling the cork.$121.00 -
(1x150cl) 2017Vinous (97)
An exotic, totally beguiling wine, the 2017 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru melds together rich fruit with saline, mineral-drenched intensity. White flowers, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks add tremendous lift to this striking, utterly captivating Chablis. A wine of superb classicism, the Preuses has it all. That's all there is to it.$248.00 -
Decanter (97)
This comes from two parcels, facing east and south-west, respectively, making a very tidy 2.5ha in total. Showing the delicate touch of one of the very best winemakers in Chablis, this is a saline, focused, wonderfully structured Preuses that has plenty of grip and acidity, sappy, bone-dry flavors and remarkable length.$704.00 -
(1x150cl) 2019
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses bursts from the glass with scents of orange oil, warm bread, crisp stone fruits and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and enveloping, yields of only 23 hectoliters per hectare mean that it's immensely concentrated, with racy acids and a long, pungently intense finish.$212.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses bursts from the glass with scents of orange oil, warm bread, crisp stone fruits and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and enveloping, yields of only 23 hectoliters per hectare mean that it's immensely concentrated, with racy acids and a long, pungently intense finish.$452.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses bursts from the glass with scents of orange oil, warm bread, crisp stone fruits and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and enveloping, yields of only 23 hectoliters per hectare mean that it's immensely concentrated, with racy acids and a long, pungently intense finish.$607.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
From the heart of Preuses, this wine has density, glycerol, chewiness and tension that all make it clear this is a wine of consequence. In total, there are 2.5 hectares chez F vre, of which one is western-facing. Hence, there's lots of sunny vinosity with exuberant orchard fruits. The textured, chalky finish offers good grip. 2024-40$600.00
