William Fèvre : Chablis Grand cru "Vaudésir" Domaine 2023

Tasting Characteristics and Tips for the Chablis Grand Cru "Vaudésir" Domaine 2023 by William Fèvre

Tasting

Nose
The bouquet reveals, with aeration, a beautiful framework of fruit and floral aromas.

Palate
The palate combines liveliness and suppleness with a broad, airy structure.

A Chablis Grand Cru of elegant mineral freshness

The estate

Founded in the 19th century, the Domaine William Fèvre, located in Chablis in Bourgogne, experienced significant growth under William Fèvre’s direction from 1959, expanding from 7 to 78 hectares, including 31.1 hectares classified as Premier and Grand Cru. The estate, acquired by DBR Lafite in January 2024, is distinguished by its Kimmeridgian terroir, which imparts a unique minerality to its exclusively Chardonnay wines. The first Chablis domaine certified Haute Valeur Environnementale in 2014, it combines tradition with sustainable innovation.

The vineyard

The Grand Cru Vaudésir covers 14.71 hectares, of which the Domaine William Fèvre owns 1.20 hectares. This exceptional vineyard, located between Valmur and Les Preuses in Chablis, features a unique configuration: its northern slope faces south, while its southern slope faces west. The very steep terrain is characterized by soil that is more clayey than limestone, bringing distinctive richness to this Grand Cru of Bourgogne.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage experienced a contrasting climate with a mild winter, frost without serious damage, and a summer alternating between heat and rain. Despite significant sanitary pressure in June, well managed by the teams, the September harvest delivered generous volumes and grapes in excellent condition.

Winemaking and aging

This Chablis Grand Cru is produced using a gentle approach, with gravity-based winemaking without pumping and a brief pneumatic pressing. Winemaking takes place in stainless steel tanks, followed by 19 months of aging—including 5 to 6 months on the lees in French oak barrels for 35% of the cuvée. The final stage of aging is completed in stainless steel tanks.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.