Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2024 is a structured, mineral Premier Cru from the famously stony left bank of Chablis. Expect white flowers, sea breeze and shellfish notes. Tasting it from barrel, Neal Martin of Vinous called the 2024 "very fine", and it's a wine that will reward some patience.
In the glass it shows light honeysuckle and orange pith notes that build as the wine breathes.
It is a good weekend wine for lovers of precise, nervy Chablis. This wine would pair well with fresh oysters or turbot.
Montmains escaped the worst of the 2024 hail, yet the Domaine still harvested only 17 hectolitres of wine per hectare here, according to Allen Meadows of Burghound.
What it tastes like
The wine has sleek, refined yet solidly powerful flavours, with a beguiling texture and exemplary concentration, as Allen Meadows described it. It is very precise and fresh.
A twist of bitter lemon gives the finish its bite, and the minerality is almost fierce on the clean, dry and balanced close.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh and nervy
- Oak: 30% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, which adds texture
- Style: Precise, nervy, mineral Premier Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Fresh oysters
- Grilled lobster
- Turbot
- Scallops
- Fish in a cream sauce
- Aged goat's cheese, where the wine's acidity and stony edge balance the tangy 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.
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 owns 3.68 hectares across all three sites. Butteaux brings minerality, Forêts brings fruit and Montmains itself brings richness. In 2024 the blend was just under 40% Butteaux, with about 30% each from Forêts and Montmains, according to Allen Meadows.
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 18 months in total, with 30% 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 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
Allen Meadows advises at least moderate patience with this wine. Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it from 2027 to 2037.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Premier Cru Montmains |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Premier Cru |
| Alcohol: |
13% |
| Oak: |
30% aged 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel, with natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentations |
| Cellaring: |
2027 to 2037 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
| Organic: |
Certified organic from the 2023 vintage |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 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 Montmains 2024 taste like?
It shows white flowers, sea breeze, shellfish and honeysuckle, with sleek, powerful flavours and a crisp bitter-lemon finish.
What are Forêts and Butteaux?
They are 2 climats (named vineyard sites) that sit within the Montmains Premier Cru. Domaine William Fèvre blends fruit from Butteaux, Forêts and Montmains itself.
Is William Fèvre Montmains oaked?
Partly. In 2024, 30% of the wine spent 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, and the rest was aged in stainless steel.
How long can you keep Montmains 2024?
Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it between 2027 and 2037.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
