William Fèvre Vaillons (Domaine) 1er Cru 2009
$46.00 (available by the 12-bottle case)

Grape Variety:
100% Chardonnay.

Characteristics of the soil:
Chalky clay, marl, and marly limestone from the Kimmeridgian era (the upper Jurassic geological period, 160-140 million years ago). Located on either side of the Serein River.

Characteristics of the subsoil:
Rich in minerals and oyster fossils, giving the mineral character typical of the wines of Chablis.

Surface & Location of the Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons:
104 hectares on the left bank of the Serein River.

Surface & Exposure of the parcels of Domaine William Fevre:
2.86 hectares with a southeast exposure, mainly on the Vaillons, Sécher and Mélinots parcels.

The Harvest:
Manual, in small cases (holding up to maximum 13kg), with the systematic use of a sorting table.

Vinification:
Use of the principle of gravity so as to avoid all pumping, which could harm the quality of the wine. Brief (1½-2 hours) pneumatic pressing to obtain a gentle separation of the solids and liquids of the grape. Very light static settling of the juice to preserve enough fine lees so that the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations can occur naturally.

Maturing:
10-13 months in French oak barrels for approximately 50% of the harvest, the remainder in small stainless steel vats.

Tasting Notes:
Pronounced nose of fruit and flowers, with lovely freshness and a few mineral touches. Generous palate, with lovely roundness.

Food-Wine Matches:
Fish, seafood and shellfish, grilled or in a cream sauce. Poultry and white meat, grilled or in a cream sauce.

Accolades:

“The 2009 Chablis Vaillons is strikingly beautiful. The aromatics alone are compelling, with layers of crushed rocks, oyster shells, white flowers and peaches that meld seamlessly into the palate. Smoke, ash and wet stones arrive later, adding further complexity, as the wine opens up on the finish. This is a superbly pedigreed wine of exceptional quality. The wine’s balance and overall sense of harmony are remarkable. Along with Vaudesir, Vaillons is among the first parcels to be harvested here, and was the first plot to be converted to biodynamic farming. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. 93” The Wine Advocate

“A notably ripe nose of white flower notes, spice hints plus citrus and sea breeze nuances, both of which can also be found on the textured and relatively concentrated middle weight flavors that possess plenty of energy and punch on the salty and linear finish. (89-92)/2014+” Burghound.com

For more information visit www.williamfevre.fr