Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2024 comes from the only Premier Cru on the same hillside as the Chablis Grands Crus, right beside Les Preuses. Expect lemon peel, nectarine and oyster shell. Charles Curtis MW named it the Top Chablis 1er Cru of the 2024 vintage in Decanter.
In the glass it shows remarkable mineral freshness, with a hint of chalk and a rich, dense texture.
It is a special weekend wine for anyone who likes white Burgundy with real tension. This wine would pair well with lobster or seared scallops.
Didier Séguier calls Vaulorent the Domaine's "baby grand cru", Allen Meadows of Burghound reported, and in 2024 it yielded only 8 hectolitres of wine per hectare.
What it tastes like
The wine has quinine, a touch of petrol and a tidal-pool saltiness on the nose, with citrus and white-fleshed fruit. The palate has outstanding volume and mid-palate density, carried by vibrant freshness.
The finish is long, precise and flinty. A gorgeous complex wine.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Vibrant and tensile
- Oak: 40% of the wine spends 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, which adds a creamy texture
- Style: Rich, mineral, saline Premier Cru
Food to enjoy this with
- Fresh oysters
- Grilled lobster
- Scallops
- Turbot
- Vegetable risotto
- Comté or Époisses, where the wine's freshness cuts through the rich, creamy 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.
Vaulorent is a climat (named vineyard site) within the Fourchaume Premier Cru. It borders the Grand Cru Les Preuses, making it the only Premier Cru on the same hillside as the Grands Crus. Domaine William Fèvre is its largest owner, farming eight plots totalling 3.63 hectares, or 21% of the climat.
The soils resemble those of Les Preuses, with plenty of marl and Kimmeridgian limestone (limestone packed with fossilised oyster shells), which give the wine density and salinity. Séguier selects barrels for this cuvée on vine age, concentration and power.
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 40% 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 writes in Decanter that rain from October 2023 ran 50% above normal. Frost in mid-April was followed by a hailstorm on 1 May, with more hail on 29 June and 31 July. The best wines are vibrant, acid and mineral driven.
Jasper Morris noted the wines are less fragile than the 2021's, whilst James Suckling reported that many of William Fèvre's Grand Cru plots gave only 5 to 6 hectolitres per hectare.
When to drink it
Domaine William Fèvre says Vaulorent will age beautifully, and Neal Martin of Vinous suggests drinking it from 2027 to 2043. It's the sort of wine you buy a case of.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine William Fèvre |
| Wine: |
Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
100% Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Vaulorent (Fourchaume), Chablis Premier Cru, Burgundy |
| Country: |
France |
| Classification: |
Chablis Premier Cru |
| Alcohol: |
12.5% |
| Oak: |
40% aged 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel |
| Closure: |
Cork |
| Cellaring: |
2027 to 2043 (Neal Martin, Vinous) |
| Organic: |
Certified organic from the 2023 vintage |
Where to buy
The Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 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
Is Vaulorent a Grand Cru?
No. Vaulorent is a Premier Cru within Fourchaume, but it sits on the Grand Cru hillside and borders Les Preuses, so its soils are very similar.
What does William Fèvre Vaulorent 2024 taste like?
It shows lemon peel, nectarine, oyster shell and chalk, with a rich, dense palate and a long, flinty, saline finish.
What did Decanter say about Vaulorent 2024?
Charles Curtis MW chose it as the Top Chablis 1er Cru of the 2024 vintage in his Decanter vintage report.
Is William Fèvre Vaulorent oaked?
Partly. In 2024, 40% of the wine spent 5 to 6 months in French oak barrels, and the rest was aged in stainless steel.
Where can I buy Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2024?
The Winery sells Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
