William Fevre, Chablis Grand Cru, Preuses 2021

Les Preuses is probably taken from the word “Perreuse” (stone), the name given to the ancient Roman road which ran below the current vineyard. Made for ageing thanks to a dense, compact, clay-rich soil resting on a limestone bed. This has a floral nose, with fruity aromas enhanced by intense mineral notes and developing lightly smoky touches. Very round on the palate, both full-bodied and refined.

When William Févre declared their first vintage in 1959, they owned just seven hectares of vineyard. Today they have 78 hectares of some of the most prestigious terroir in the world. The deep Kimmeridgian (clay & limestone) soils of Chablis give the wines their incredible freshness and minerality. Commitment to quality is not in question and talented winemaker Didier Séguier, at the helm since 1998, crafts some of the region’s most characterful wines. Harvesting is all done by hard, allowing for fruit to arrive at the winery in prime condition, ahead of a judicious sorting to only select the very best quality.