Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024 is a powerful, mineral Grand Cru from the steepest slope in Chablis. Expect iodine, oyster shell and lemon-lime over white orchard fruit. Charles Curtis MW named it one of his top wines of the vintage for Decanter, calling it "superb".
In the glass it shows a crisp, stony nose of white flowers and sea spray, with a cool edge of quinine (the bitter note in tonic water). The palate is dense and full, with a pleasing roundness.
It is a special weekend wine for anyone who loves Grand Cru Chablis with real power, and one to lay down. This wine would pair well with Dover sole meunière or a rich lobster bisque.
Hail and mildew cut the 2024 crop in this parcel to just 9.5 hectolitres of wine per hectare of vines, according to Allen Meadows of Burghound.
What it tastes like
The wine has bright lemon peel and nectarine fruit, which Charles Curtis MW describes as sunny in character. Allen Meadows found the flavours super-sleek and intense, almost thick in texture, with superb power and drive.
Hints of chai spice and ginger build through the palate, and the long, vigorous finish is youthfully austere yet beautifully balanced. Allen Meadows called it "breathtakingly good" when he tasted it from barrel.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Bright and lively
- Oak: 40% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in older French oak barrels, which adds depth and texture
- Style: Powerful, mineral Grand Cru Chablis
Food to enjoy this with
- Dover sole meunière
- Lobster bisque
- Langoustines with garlic butter
- Turbot with beurre blanc
- Seared foie gras, where the wine's power and fresh acidity stand up to the richness
- Aged Brillat-Savarin cheese
Who makes it
William Fèvre founded the Domaine in 1959 with 7 hectares, building on more than 250 years of family winegrowing in Chablis. It is now the largest owner of Grand Cru vineyards in the region, with 70 hectares spread over 90 separate plots. In January 2024 it joined the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) family, and Didier Séguier, winemaker since 1998, still runs the cellar.
Bougros sits at the western end of the Grand Cru hill, close to the river Serein. Domaine William Fèvre farms 49% of the cru, including 2.11 hectares in the Côte Bouguerots, where the slope nears 45 degrees. It is so steep that the vines must be worked entirely by hand.
The vines were planted mostly in the 1950s and '60s, on shallow soils of clay over Kimmeridgian limestone (limestone packed with tiny fossilised oyster shells). The thin soils keep yields naturally low, and the river keeps the site fresh through summer.
For the 2024 vintage, the grapes were moved by gravity rather than pumped, and pressed gently for 1.5 to 2 hours. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 19 months in total, with 40% of it spending 5 to 6 months on fine lees (the spent yeast cells that add texture) in French oak barrels.
About the vintage
Charles Curtis MW reported in Decanter that the 5 months before bud burst brought 50% more rain than usual. Frost struck in late April, and a hailstorm on 1 May destroyed or badly damaged more than a third of the vineyards in Chablis. More hail followed on 29 June and 31 July, and most producers lost 60 to 90% of a normal crop.
Didier Séguier told Allen Meadows of Burghound that the team began picking on 20 September. They hired 220 pickers instead of the usual 150 or so, and harvested all 70 hectares in just 3¼ days. Yields ranged from 2 to 20 hectolitres per hectare, with an average of 9.
When to drink it
Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it from 2028 to 2047. It's the sort of wine you buy a case of and open over the years.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Bougros Grand Cru, Chablis, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Grand Cru |
| Alcohol: |
12.5% |
| Oak: |
40% aged 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel |
| Closure: |
Cork |
| Cellaring: |
2028 to 2047 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
| Organic: |
Certified organic from the 2023 vintage |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What does William Fèvre Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024 taste like?
It shows iodine, oyster shell, lemon peel and nectarine, with spicy hints of ginger. The palate is dense and powerful, and the finish is long and balanced.
Where is Côte Bouguerots in Chablis?
Côte Bouguerots is a very steep part of the Bougros Grand Cru, at the western end of the Chablis Grand Cru hill near the river Serein. Domaine William Fèvre farms 2.11 hectares there.
Is William Fèvre Bougros Côte Bouguerots oaked?
Partly. In 2024, 40% of the wine spent 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, and the rest was aged in stainless steel.
How long can you cellar Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024?
Neal Martin of Vinous gives it a drinking window of 2028 to 2047.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
