Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2024 is a refined, age-worthy Grand Cru from high on the Chablis Grand Cru hill. Expect citrus, quinine and a salty, sea-air edge. Tasting it from barrel, Allen Meadows of Burghound called it "seriously good" and told readers not to hesitate if they can find it.
In the glass it shows a floral nose with ripe fruit and intense mineral notes, which turn slightly smoky as the wine opens up.
It is a special weekend wine for collectors of great white Burgundy, and it rewards patience in the cellar. This wine would pair well with poached lobster or turbot en croûte.
In 2024 the Domaine's Les Preuses vines gave just 2.5 hectolitres of wine per hectare, according to Allen Meadows.
What it tastes like
The wine has a hint of petrol on the nose, with a briny tang of salt water and seaweed. Allen Meadows found the mouthfeel dense to the point of being almost thick, while keeping the natural refinement of a classic Preuses.
The palate is notably round, powerful and polished. The finish is precise, palate-staining and very long.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh
- Oak: 35% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, which adds roundness and texture
- Style: Refined, mineral, age-worthy Grand Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Poached lobster
- Turbot en croûte
- Sole meunière
- Langoustines
- Risotto with shaved white truffle
- Aged Comté, where the nutty cheese picks up the wine's smoky, mineral notes
Who makes it
William Fèvre founded the Domaine in 1959 with 7 hectares. Today it farms 70 hectares across 90 plots and is the largest owner of Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis. Didier Séguier has made the wines since 1998, and the Domaine joined the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) family in January 2024.
Les Preuses sits high on the Grand Cru slope. Its name comes from "perreuse", an old word for stone, after the Roman road that once ran at its foot. Domaine William Fèvre owns 2.55 hectares here, 22% of the 11.44-hectare Grand Cru, in plots facing south-west in the north and south to south-east elsewhere.
The soils are dense, compact clay resting on a slab of limestone, among the most structured of the seven Grands Crus. They give wines that can age for many years.
For the 2024 vintage, the grapes were moved by gravity and pressed gently for 1.5 to 2 hours. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 19 months in total, with 35% of it spending 5 to 6 months on fine lees (the spent yeast cells that add texture) in French oak barrels.
About the vintage
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.
Didier Séguier called 2024 one of the toughest vintages in at least 50 years when he spoke to Zekun Shuai of JamesSuckling.com. Shuai found that the best wines of the vintage show striking tension and crystalline minerality.
When to drink it
Domaine William Fèvre says the length and elegance of Les Preuses reward patience. Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it from 2027 to 2040.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Les Preuses Grand Cru, Chablis, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Grand Cru |
| Alcohol: |
13% |
| Oak: |
35% aged 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel |
| Cellaring: |
2027 to 2040 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
| Organic: |
Certified organic from the 2023 vintage |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 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 Les Preuses 2024 taste like?
It shows citrus, petrol, quinine and a salty, sea-air edge, with floral and slightly smoky notes. The palate is dense, round and refined, with a very long finish.
Where is Les Preuses in Chablis?
Les Preuses is one of the 7 Chablis Grands Crus, near the top of the Grand Cru slope. Its soils are dense, compact clay over limestone.
How much of Les Preuses does William Fèvre own?
Domaine William Fèvre owns 2.55 hectares of the 11.44-hectare Grand Cru, about 22% of the appellation.
How long can you keep Les Preuses 2024?
Neal Martin of Vinous suggests a drinking window of 2027 to 2040.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
