Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2024 comes from one of the most respected Premier Cru sites in Chablis, right beside the Grands Crus. Expect white flowers, a hint of gardenia and a cool, stony edge. Tasting it from barrel, Neal Martin of Vinous called the 2024 "excellent".
In the glass it first reveals apple blossom, honeysuckle and a touch of yellow fruit, opening up nicely as it breathes.
It is a special weekend wine for anyone who likes Chablis with weight as well as precision. This wine would pair well with grilled lobster or seared scallops.
Hail and mildew held the 2024 yield here to just 7 hectolitres of wine per hectare of vines, according to Allen Meadows of Burghound.
What it tastes like
The wine has rich, suave and caressing flavours of medium weight, with good verve and evident minerality, as Allen Meadows put it. A spicy thread of lemongrass lingers on the aftertaste.
It is structured and firm in its youth, and the finish is long and quietly persistent. Allen Meadows called it "very classy" when he tasted it from barrel.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh
- Oak: 35% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, which adds texture and depth
- Style: Floral, mineral, structured Premier Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Grilled lobster
- Seared scallops
- Turbot
- Fish in a cream sauce
- Foie gras, where the wine's acidity and minerality cut through the richness
- Aged goat's 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.
Montée de Tonnerre stretches around the hillside just east of the Grands Crus and shares much of their geology, which is why it is widely regarded as one of the finest Premier Cru sites. Domaine William Fèvre farms 2.24 hectares on the crest of the slope, split between three lieux-dits (named vineyard plots): Pied d'Aloup, Côte de Bréchain and Chapelot.
Each plot brings something different. Pied d'Aloup has the most marl (lime-rich clay) and adds structure and salinity, while the old Chapelot vines, planted in 1936, add finesse.
For the 2024 vintage, the grapes were moved by gravity and pressed gently for 1.5 to 2 hours. A light settling kept enough fine lees (spent yeast cells) in the juice for both fermentations to start naturally. 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 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 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 Montée de Tonnerre is structured in its youth and becomes more subtle and elegant with a few years of age. Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it from 2026 to 2040.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Montée de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Premier Cru |
| Alcohol: |
12.5% |
| Oak: |
35% aged 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel, with natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentations |
| Cellaring: |
2026 to 2040 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
| Organic: |
Certified organic from the 2023 vintage |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 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 Montée de Tonnerre 2024 taste like?
It shows white flowers, apple blossom and honeysuckle, with a cool, stony character. The palate is rich and suave, with a spicy lemongrass note on the finish.
Which vineyards go into William Fèvre Montée de Tonnerre?
The wine blends 3 plots on the crest of the hill: Pied d'Aloup, Côte de Bréchain and Chapelot. The Chapelot vines were planted in 1936.
Is William Fèvre Montée de Tonnerre oaked?
Partly. About 35% of the 2024 spent 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, and the rest was aged in stainless steel.
When should I drink Montée de Tonnerre 2024?
Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it between 2026 and 2040. It will become more elegant with a few years in bottle.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
