Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 is a fresh, generous Premier Cru from one of the earliest-ripening sites in Chablis. Expect white pepper, lemon zest and floral notes over a cool, stony core. Tasting it from barrel, Allen Meadows of Burghound found the balance "impeccable".
In the glass it shows a pronounced nose of fruit and flowers, with a beautiful freshness and touches of minerality.
It is a good weekend wine for anyone who likes Chablis that is generous yet fresh. This wine would pair well with oysters or grilled scallops.
The Domaine's 2024 yield in Vaillons was just 15 hectolitres of wine per hectare of vines, according to Allen Meadows.
What it tastes like
The wine has a cool, airy feel, with quinine (the bitter note in tonic water) on the nose. The palate is generous and refined, with a beautiful roundness, while the flavours are dense, vibrant and overtly stony.
The finish is lingering and mineral, with a lightly bitter citrus edge that keeps it lively.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh and brisk
- Oak: 25% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, which rounds out the texture
- Style: Fresh, generous, stony Premier Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Fresh oysters
- Grilled scallops
- Turbot
- Fish in a cream sauce
- Goat's cheese
- Soft-ripened cheeses such as Brie, where the wine's freshness cuts through the creamy texture
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.
Vaillons is one of the largest Premier Crus in Chablis, on the left bank of the river Serein, and one of the first to ripen each year. Its soils hold more limestone than clay: hard, fissured Portlandian limestone sitting above the Kimmeridgian subsoil (limestone and marl full of fossilised oyster shells) found across most of Chablis. That mix gives the wines freshness and a generous roundness.
Domaine William Fèvre farms 3.65 hectares here in 12 plots facing south-east. Most are in Vaillons itself, with fruit from the Châtains, Mélinots and Roncières sites.
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 25% 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 left-bank Premier Crus of Vaillons and Montmains escaped the worst of the 2024 hail, but lost more of their crop to mildew. Across Chablis, most producers lost 60 to 90% of a normal harvest.
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 2027 to 2037.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Premier Cru |
| Alcohol: |
12.5% |
| Oak: |
25% 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 Vaillons 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 Vaillons 2024 taste like?
It shows white pepper, lemon zest, flowers and quinine, with a dense, stony palate and a lightly bitter citrus finish.
Where is Vaillons in Chablis?
Vaillons is a large Premier Cru on the left bank of the river Serein. Its soils are rich in hard Portlandian limestone over the Kimmeridgian subsoil.
Is William Fèvre Vaillons oaked?
Partly. In 2024, 25% 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 Vaillons 2024?
Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it between 2027 and 2037.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
