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 Vintage2005 Label 1 of 32 
TypeWhite
ProducerDomaine William Fèvre (web)
VarietyChardonnay
Designationn/a
VineyardVaudésir
CountryFrance
RegionBurgundy
SubRegionChablis
AppellationChablis Grand Cru

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2011 and 2021 (based on 10 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Domaine W. Fevre Chablis Vaudesir on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 91.1 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 28 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by rwpalmer on 6/5/2022 & rated 90 points: Mid gold. A "round" buttery nose. Similarly soft and full in the palate. Not dried out. Lacking any significant acidity that would identify it as Chablis but highly enjoyable nonetheless. Drink soon. (299 views)
 Tasted by swyang on 11/19/2018: Nice but a bit short and flat... pretty but lacks a certain charm which would make me want to seek out for this. If you have a few bottles left, drink them up, while enjoyable. Cheers. (1053 views)
 Tasted by doctornoah on 2/27/2018 & rated 91 points: Beautifully mineral, saline, but also round. Mouthful of wet rocks. If anything a lack of development for a 12 year old Chablis. Had I a bottle more, I would hold. (1629 views)
 Tasted by swyang on 9/30/2017: Amazing purity and this really embrasses your palate with suave coating of iodine, mineral, chalk, flowers all wrapped as a bouquet. This still was not quite fully developed and I wouldn't be surprised that in just about a year from now it will hit its peak. Stunning, yet oh so elegant baby. Cheers, (1775 views)
 Tasted by Alex G. on 6/18/2016: Leans toward a richer, fatter style presumably because of the vintage. Good length, delicious though not particularly complex. Great pairing with soft shell crab. Second bottle more precise than the first, maybe first slightly premox. There's probably risk in holding these long term, drink up. (2526 views)
 Tasted by conviction buy on 1/29/2016 & rated 91 points: Pnp, med straw yellow in color. Quite closed showing only some citrus note. On palate, it is mineral driven, steely not giving much but looming behind are potential of floral, saline and finesse. Should give it some time. (2516 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 12/21/2014: Another good bottle, very pale yellow, classic Chablis nose, but rounder on the palate with an interesting, slightly sweet (nut?) note, good acidity, going to drink my other bottles in the short term (2580 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 8/10/2014: Finally a bottle in good condition, rounder Chablis, drink up (2460 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 7/20/2014 flawed bottle: Defective bottle (2171 views)
 Tasted by REWindsor on 6/30/2014 & rated 90 points: Good blend of minerality and wet stones. Lemon and citrus with nice nuttiness. Long finish and full bodied. (1574 views)
 Tasted by markellen.foodies@gmail.com on 3/11/2014 & rated 92 points: Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): The wine looks straw colored. The legs are medium. It smells like apricot, peach, almond and lime. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity. Difficult to ID it as Chablis, surprisingly for a Fevre. Alvaro's White. (1923 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 1/1/2014: Drinking well now (1176 views)
 Tasted by Burgundy Al on 10/12/2013 & rated 91 points: Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. I immediately thought this Burgundy, while others thought it might be new world. A bit toasty and fruit forward. Easy to enjoy a lot, I just didn't find it very Chablis-like today. (1581 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 7/15/2013: Rounder chablis, drinking just fine now (974 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 12/27/2012: A much better bottle, drinking well now (1160 views)
 Tasted by Federsin on 9/29/2012: A rounder Chablis with interesting sweet notes accomanying the minerals, good acidity and freshness, lovely, I do not see this one getting better with age (1198 views)
 Tasted by Burgaddict on 5/20/2012 & rated 90 points: Very different from the 1er cru Chablis I normally drink. Nose full with flowery tones, taste starts sweet, stone fruit, flowers, in mid palate the chablis tones appear: salty, mineral. Very long finish combining all these flavours. Much less acidity than I am used to in Chablis. Difficult for me to judge. (1427 views)
 Tasted by jwsmith on 2/3/2012 & rated 92 points: Classic chablis sea salt mineral brisk on the finish, very nice. This wine has not aged much in 5 years. (1528 views)
 Tasted by acyso on 11/6/2010 & rated 88 points: Slightly odd bouquet at first, with a whiff of mustiness and age, which seemed to blow off pretty quickly. There's a nose of stone fruit, dried pineapple, and flowers; no indication of the sharp piercing acidity that I come to expect from Chablis. Perhaps it's because this is '05? There's a buttery texture, and the palate lacks the rush of green acidity and minerality that I like in my Chablis. A hint of sweetness, some yellow fruits, and certainly oak-influenced. This seems a bit too fat. Not so good if you were expecting a mouth-puckering Chablis, but a high quality wine nonetheless. Medium finish. (1677 views)
 Tasted by winejnky on 10/26/2010 & rated 92 points: Stone fruit, peach, limey acidity, grapefruit, petrol, lemon oil, white pepper. A dense, chewy, excellent/classic Chablis. (1448 views)
 Tasted by french16 on 4/28/2010: No formal notes but nice nose with a hint of minerality. Rather med body+, a little buttery which somehow bothers me. (1509 views)
 Tasted by br on 1/1/2010: young and fresh but with more fruitiness than one would expect from a chablis. plenty of butter (a bit too much?) and a good bouquet of flowers withn a very long finish. if one were to describe in sculputural terms: more clay vs. chisled marble. (1566 views)
 Tasted by carlwhat on 2/24/2009 & rated 93 points: beautiful juicy chablis... has so much more stuffing and definition compared to a montmains i had a few nights ago... really terrif showing of fine chablis... (1904 views)
 Tasted by jwsmith on 11/30/2008 & rated 93 points: Clean crisp and balanced, lemon lime zest and wet stone not completely classic but very nice and approachable. (1717 views)
 Tasted by jwsmith on 6/8/2008 & rated 92 points: These 05's are really starting to show. This wine is clean pure chablis, salty sea breeze oyster shell iodine...Classic with excellent cut. (1768 views)
 Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine...

Professional 'Channels'
By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/2/2007)
(Dom William Fèvre, Vaudésir Chablis Grand Cru White) Subscribe to see review text.
The World of Fine Wine, March 2007, Issue #15
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir) Login and sign up and see review text.
By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Nov/Dec 2006, Issue #6, The 2005 Burgundy Vintage : Great Reds and Pleasant Whites
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis “Vaudésir”) Login and sign up and see review text.
By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2006, IWC Issue #129
(Domaine William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir) Subscribe to see review text.
By Allen Meadows
Burghound, 4th Quarter, 2006, Issue #24
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru White) Subscribe to see review text.
By Allen Meadows
Burghound
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru White) Subscribe to see review text.
By Allen Meadows
Burghound
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru White) Subscribe to see review text.
By Allen Meadows
Burghound
(Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru White) Subscribe to see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and The World of Fine Wine and View From the Cellar and Vinous and Burghound. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Domaine William Fèvre

Producer website



Kevin Shaffer, a.k.a. Burgschnauzer

William Fevre, the son of an accomplished winemaker, founded Domaine de la Maladiere and bottled his first wines after the 1959 harvest. Over a forty year span, Domaine de la Maladiere slowly grew into the largest owner of grand cru vineyards in the region and it enjoyed an excellent reputation. William was also a dominant personality. When the local political establishment wanted to increase the region’s vineyard area to include sites that that did not possess the important Kimmeridgian soil, William stood out as one of the fiercest and loudest opponents to the expansion. The wines from these new areas, he argued, would not have the classic aromas and flavors that were characteristic of Chablis. Fevre lost the battle, but by voicing his opinion he had become one of the leading figures in the region. In 1998, Fevre sold his estate to the Henriot family of Champagne, who in an odd twist, changed the name to Domaine William Fevre. Henriot had also recently purchased the Beaune negociant Bouchard Pere et Fils and had been responsible for a renaissance at that estate. Several changes were immediately made at Fevre by the Henriot team and the quality of the wines improved. The domaine is now recognized as one of, if not the top, producers in Chablis.

Fevre releases wines under two labels, one from land owned by the domaine and the other from purchased fruit. The two labels are nearly identical, but the estate bottles read “Domaine” in script above “William Fevre”. Several premier crus are produced under the domaine label, including Beauroy (1.12 ha.), Montmains (1.75 ha.), Les Lys (0.99 ha.), Vaillons (2.86 ha.), Fourchaume and Montee de Tonnerre (1.5 ha.). A unique cuvee is bottled the from the lieu-dit Vaulaurent, which is separated from the northern portion of the grand cru Les Preuses by a path. The vineyard is allowed to use the name of the nearby premier cru Fourchaume and is labeled as Fourchaume Vignoble de Vaulaurent. More powerful than a typical Fourchaume, the wine is considered to be a “baby grand cru” by the Fevre team. Additionally, Cote de Lechet and Mont de Mileu are bottled under the negociant label.

15.2 hectares of the domaines 27 hectares are located in grand cru vineyards and the line-up is impressive. Bougros (4.12 ha.), Les Preuses (2.55 ha.), Vaudesir (1.20 ha.), Valmur (1.15 ha.) and Les Clos (4.11 ha.) are all bottled under the domaine label. The only grand cru missing from the estate’s portfolio is Blanchots, but a wine from this vineyard is sold under the negociant arm. The domaine also separates a portion of Bougros as separate cuvee. Clos des Bouguerots (2.11 ha.) is a small parcel located at the bottom of Bougros that is extremely steep. The domaine views this section as a separate vineyard and thus the eighth grand cru of Chablis. More elegant and refined, the Clos des Bouguerots cuvee is a step up from the estate’s regular bottling.

The wines made by William Fevre under the Domaine de la Maladiere label were respected, but not universally loved. New oak barrels were used liberally and the bottled wines reflected this treatment. The new regime reduced the amount of new oak used in the cellar and the wines quickly became more transparent. Didier Seguier is in charge of the winemaking and seeks to produce wines that show their terroir. All of the grapes harvested by the estate are hand-picked and carefully sorted. Some of the wines are fermented in steel vats, others in barrels, but the percentage of new oak is moderate. The wines are intense, clean and precise. William Fevre may no longer be making wine in Chablis, but his presence is still felt through the excellent domaine that bears his name.




THE AGEING POTENTIAL OF WILLIAM FÈVRE WINES

03 Dec 2013


The William Fèvre wine-estate has very rich and varied vineyards among which 60% are classified as Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. These wines offer a large array of nuances and have to be appreciated depending on moods and opportunities. However the right time to taste them is a tricky question because it is intimately linked with the ageing potential, which itself is variable according to the climate of the appellation and the vintage.

Though the Chablis wines tend to be consumed in their youth, they nonetheless show an ability to reveal themselves over 5 to 7 years of cellaring, unveiling more complex aromas while keeping a great freshness.

The Premier Crus like Les Lys and Beauroy will show well over the next 7 years.

For other climates such as Montmains, Vaulorent or even Mont de Milieu which are rich, unctuous and very mineral so that the keeping can go on for 10 to 15 years.

On the other hand one will have to be more patient with Grands Crus which can be kept for at least 10 years for some climates like Vaudésir or Bougros and beyond 15 years for Les Clos or Les Preuses.



Chardonnay

The Chardonnay Grape

Vaudésir

at weinlagen.info

Vaudesir is one of the seven official climats of the Chablis Grand Cru white wine appellation. The vineyard – planted entirely to Chardonnay – sits atop the Grand Cru hill, overlooking the town of Chablis below. Vaudesir Grand Cru wines tend to be softer and more elegant than other Chablis Grand Cru wines, with floral characters rounding out Chablis' iconic minerality.

The vineyard covers 42 acres (17ha) of steep land above the Grenouilles Grand Cru site on the hill, just east of Preuses. The vineyard is shaped like an amphitheatre, and is cut through by a track known as the "Chemin des Vaudesirs", giving it a double orientation. Half of its vines face due south, with the remainder facing southwest.

This topography helps to distinguish Vaudesir from other vineyard sites, as the steep slopes provide some protection from northerly winds and vines instead benefit from good exposure to sunlight. This moderates temperatures in the cool Chablis climate, giving Vaudesir a favorable mesoclimate where grapes can develop phenolic ripeness alongside acidity. This leads to balanced wines with lighter body than some of its more exposed neighbors.

Another crucial factor in the Vaudesir terroir is the soils, which tend to be lighter than in the other Grand Cru climats. Although they are still based on the same Kimmeridgian subsoil that sits beneath the rest of the Grand Cru hill, soils in Vaudesir tend toward clay rather than limestone. The lower proportions of limestone here have led to a wine with a more refined minerality: Vaudesir Grand Cru wines lack the muscularity of Les Clos or Valmur wines.

Vaudesir is home to the La Moutonne vineyard: a six-acre (2.5ha) site that is not officially part of the AOC law, but is often considered to be the eighth Chablis Grand Cru.

France

Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)

Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings

2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.com

Burgundy

Les vins de Bourgogne (Bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne) (and in English)

Burgundy - The province of eastern France, famous for its red wines produced from Pinot Noir and its whites produced from Chardonnay. (Small of amounts of Gamay and Aligoté are still grown, although these have to be labeled differently.) The most famous part of the region is known as the Cote d'Or (the Golden Slope). It is divided into the Cote de Beaune, south of the town of Beaune (famous principally for its whites), and the Cote de Nuits, North of Beaune (home of the most famous reds). In addition, the Cote Chalonnaise and the Maconnais are important wine growing regions, although historically a clear level (or more) below the Cote d'Or. Also included by some are the regions of Chablis and Auxerrois, farther north.

Burgundy Report | Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne - na stejné téma od Heleny Baker

# 2013 Vintage Notes:
* "2013 is a vintage that 20 years ago would have been a disaster." - Will Lyons
* "low yields and highly variable reds, much better whites." - Bill Nanson
* "Virtually all wines were chaptalised, with a bit of sugar added before fermentation to increase the final alcohol level." - Jancis Robinson

# 2014 Vintage Notes:
"We have not had such splendid harvest weather for many years. This will ensure high quality (fragrant, classy and succulent are words already being used) across the board, up and down the hierarchy and well as consistently from south to north geographically apart from those vineyards ravaged by the hail at the end of June." - Clive Coates

# 2015 Vintage Notes:
"Low yields and warm weather allowed for ample ripeness, small berries and an early harvest. Quality is looking extremely fine, with some people whispering comparisons with the outstanding 2005 vintage. Acid levels in individual wines may be crucial." - Jancis Robinson

# 2017 Vintage Notes:
"Chablis suffered greatly from frost in 2017, resulting in very reduced volumes. As ever, the irony seems to be that what remains is very good quality, as it is in the Côte d’Or. Cooler nights across the region have resulted in higher-than-usual acidity, with good conditions throughout the harvest season allowing for ripe, healthy fruit." - Jancis Robinson

# 2018 Vintage Notes:
"The most successful region for red Burgundy in 2018 was the Côte de Beaune. The weather was ideal in this area, with just enough sunlight and rain to produce perfectly balanced wines naturally." - Vinfolio

Chablis

Chablis (Fédération de Défense de l'Appellation Chablis) | Chablis (Burgundy Wines)

2014 Vintage Notes:
"... a hybrid of 2004/2007 and 2010. The stone, citrus and limestone amalgam is exactly what we search for in Chablis as the style harkens to a day in the Cote de Beaune proper (1960's - 1980's) when wine was not meant to be consumed the week it was released, battonage was not used by all and new oak was rarely seen ... the texture is natural and 'of the vintage' not 'of the winemaker' .... Like Sancerre or the Loire in general, 2014 in Chablis is one of those rare years with extract and transparency. It appears to be a vintage for the "neoclassic" ages and those of us intent on cellaring the most terroir-driven (but still powerful) examples of vineyard, site-place and varietal will want to invest (heavily) in the magnetic and electric 2014's." - Jon Rimmerman

2018 Vintage Notes:
"There’s not that razor sharp Chablis acidity in 2018,” says Patrick Piuze. “But there is good definition of place. The dry conditions drove vines to drink deeper down in the soil profile."

https://weinlagen-info.de/#bereich_id=58 Single vineyards on weinlagen-info James Suckling

 
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