Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2021 is a precise, mineral Premier Cru from the stony left bank of Chablis, now in its drinking window. Expect chalky minerality and citrus with real energy. It was rated 92 POINTS by Allen Meadows of Burghound, John Gilman and Christy Canterbury MW.
In the glass it shows grapefruit and floral aromas with a fresh, grassy edge.
It is a good weekend wine to open now, and a great match for oysters or grilled fish.
What it tastes like
The wine has white peach and a touch of honey on the palate, balanced by crisp acidity, as Andy Howard MW noted for Decanter. It is structured, lively and concentrated, with a fine texture.
The finish is long, precise and fresh. It's delicious now and has years ahead of it.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Crisp and lively
- Oak: Part of the wine is aged in older French oak barrels, which adds texture
- Style: Precise, lively, mineral Premier Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Fresh oysters
- Grilled snapper or other white fish
- Scallops
- Fish in a cream sauce
- Grilled lobster
- Aged goat's cheese, where the wine's acidity balances the tangy cheese
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.
Montmains is both a single climat (named vineyard site) and an umbrella name that also covers its neighbours Forêts and Butteaux. It runs down one side of a valley on the left bank of the river Serein, and its soils are unusually stony. The slopes face south-east and are prone to frost.
Domaine William Fèvre blends fruit from all three sites. Didier Séguier told Andy Howard MW that Butteaux adds tension while Montmains adds weight.
The grapes are moved by gravity rather than pumped and pressed gently, and the wine ferments naturally in stainless steel. Part of it then spends 5 to 6 months on fine lees (spent yeast cells that add texture) in French oak barrels, none of them new. Domaine William Fèvre was one of the first Chablis estates to gain HVE3 environmental certification, in 2014, and most of its vineyards are farmed biodynamically.
About the vintage
Bill Nanson of The Burgundy Report tasted the 2021s with Didier Séguier. Frost hit the higher vineyards hard, and the team ran frost-protection sprinklers for 13 to 14 days until the lake that feeds them nearly ran dry. Séguier said ripeness came "more by concentration than phenolic maturity", and that many of the wines "still need 10 years".
Charles Curtis MW rates 2021 at 4 out of 5 for Decanter. Low yields and a difficult season challenged growers, but the concentration that resulted gave top wines that are thrillingly crisp and powerful, with a long life ahead of them.
Critic scores and ratings
- 92 POINTS – Allen Meadows – Burghound, October 2023
"An overtly floral-inflected nose displays notes of pear, apple, citrus confit and mineral reduction. There is impressive density to the rich and surprisingly powerful middleweight plus flavors that are supported by bracing lemon-tinged acidity on the more complex, long and highly refreshing finish. This too could use better depth but overall, this too is good stuff and worth your interest."
- 92 POINTS – John Gilman – View from the Cellar, January 2023
"The 2021 Montmains from Didier Séguier is an excellent young premier cru. The wine offers up a classic aromatic constellation of lemon, pink grapefruit, chalky minerality, citrus peel, anise and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and precise, with a lovely core of pure fruit, excellent soil signature, tangy acids and fine mineral drive on the long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. A lovely example of Montmains."
- 92 POINTS – Christy Canterbury MW – TimAtkin.com
When to drink it
It is in its drinking window now. Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it now and through to 2035.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Premier Cru Montmains |
| Vintage: |
2021 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Premier Cru |
| Alcohol: |
12.5% |
| Oak: |
Part aged on fine lees in older French oak barrels, no new oak |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel, with natural fermentations |
| Closure: |
Diam composite cork |
| Cellaring: |
Now to 2035 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2021 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
Is William Fèvre Montmains 2021 ready to drink?
Yes. It is in its drinking window now, and Neal Martin of Vinous suggests it will keep through to 2035.
What scores did Montmains 2021 get?
Allen Meadows of Burghound, John Gilman of View from the Cellar and Christy Canterbury MW of TimAtkin.com each gave it 92.
Which vineyards go into William Fèvre Montmains?
It blends fruit from Butteaux, Forêts and Montmains itself, three neighbouring climats on the left bank of the Serein.
What food goes with Montmains 2021?
Oysters, grilled white fish, scallops and fish in a cream sauce all work well, as does aged goat's cheese.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2021?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2021 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
