Cropped at a mere 34 hectoliters per hectare, the 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent is superb, unwinding in the glass with notes of citrus oil, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, iodine and pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with racy acids and a long, iodine-inflected finish, it's the most complete premier cru in the range.\n Producer Information\n William Fevre is one of the most prestigious of all Chablis houses and, despite its relative youth, produces some of the finest expressions of Chardonnay from the north of Burgundy. The domaine holdings cover a wide range of vineyards, including numerous grand and premier cru Chablis sites. The Fevre family has been in Chablis for 250 years, but the domaine itself wasn't established by William Fèvre until 1959. William Fèvre himself sold the eponymous business in 1998 to Maisons et Domaines Henriot (which includes Champagne house Henriot, Beaune-based Bouchard Père et Fils and Beaux Frères). Today, Domaine William Fèvre owns around 76 hectares (190 acres) in Chablis, 15 hectares (37 acres) of which are in grand cru vineyards including Les Clos, Vaudésir, Bougros and Preuses. This variety of plots gives a complete and full profile of wines – for example, those from Bougros are typically full-bodied and rounded, while those from Vaudésir are more lively, fresh and floral. A further 16 hectares (39 acres) of vineyards are classified as premier cru (these include Fourchaume/Vaulorent, Vaillons, Montmains, Montée de Tonnerre and Les Lys). Historically, the wines were all aged in new oak, although more recently William Fère has changed to the use of barrels that are, on average, five years old, allowing for the quintessential Chablis freshness and minerality to shine through. Harvesting is all done by hand, with rigorous sorting for the premier and grand cru parcels.
