Wine Advisor
William Fevre, Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at the Burgfest annual tasting, Fevre's 2014 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent has a a noticeable marine influence on the nose, sea spray and cockle sheds merging with citrus lemon and flint. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, quite vibrant in the mouth with a fine, tensile finish. There is a coda on the aftertaste, touches of the sea returning with even a tang of seaweed. Very fine but subtle and understated.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent, which head winemaker Didier Séguier described as "a baby grand cru," was a little cloudier than the Fourchaume in the glass. It has a complex nose with a touch of grilled almond and dried apricot, well defined but just a little sultry at the moment. The palate is relatively rich on the entry compared to the other Premier Crus and this lends roundness and suppleness in the mouth. It gently builds with great precision, hints of lime and apricot flourishing on the peacock's tail of a finish. This is one of William Fevre's best wines this year.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Very pale lemon-green. An essence of Kimmeridgian Chablis on the nose, offering pungent scents of lime zest, powdered stone and white pepper with a strong impression of mineral energy. Boasts terrific intensity and clarity to its brisk flavors of lime, white peach, mint and minerals. Densely packed and firmly structured but not quite hard. This is extremely backward but the marne soil gives it a modicum of silkiness. This broad, full, rather powerful premier cru finishes saline and classically dry, with outstanding slowly mounting length and finesse. A great premier cru in the making owing to its near-perfect combination of richness and acidity, but I can easily imagine this wine passing through an awkward stage in bottle.
About the Producer
Domaine William Fèvre is arguably one of Chablis’ greatest domaines. Following Fèvre’s retirement in 1998, the estate was sold to the Henriot family. Since then, head winemaker Didier Séguier, has steered what was then an oaky style of Chablis, to one that was much more terroir driven. The resulting wines are showing amazing purity and concentration, expressing the unique personality and minerality of each vineyard. Domaine William Fèvre owns the largest array of Premier and Grands Crus vineyards in Chablis. The estate has been farmed organically since 2006 with selected parcels farmed biodynamically.
