William Fèvre : Chablis Grand cru "Valmur" Domaine 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2018 Chablis Grand Cru "Valmur" Domaine from William Fèvre

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow hue with golden highlights and a slight greenish tint.

Nose

The nose opens with intense mineral aromas reminiscent of oyster shells and flint, a signature of the Kimmeridgian terroir. Notes of citrus, white peach and white flowers complete this elegant, complex bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this 2018 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur reveals a broad, generous structure while maintaining remarkable freshness. Its creamy texture wraps around flavors of citrus and stone fruit, supported by a lingering saline minerality. The finish stretches out at length with characteristic lemony and iodine notes.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is an ideal match for seafood, especially oysters, langoustines and lobster. It also pairs perfectly with fine fish such as turbot or sea bass, prepared simply or with delicate cream-based sauces. Aged cheeses from Bourgogne also make an excellent pairing.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this 2018 Chablis Grand Cru "Valmur" at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. Opening it about 30 minutes before serving will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine has significant aging potential and can evolve beautifully in the cellar for many years.

A Chablis Grand Cru with typical minerality

The estate

The Domaine William Fèvre was founded in 1959 when William Fèvre Jr. declared his first harvest. Since January 2024, the estate has belonged to Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. Under the leadership of Didier Séguier since 1998, the estate now spans around 70 hectares across 90 parcels, including 15 hectares of Grands Crus. A pioneer in environmental matters, William Fèvre was the first estate in Chablis to obtain HVE3 certification in 2014. The estate has practiced organic viticulture since 2000 and biodynamics on its Premier and Grand Cru parcels since 2010, embodying a respectful approach to terroir and a minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy.

The vineyard

The Chablis Grand Cru Valmur covers around 10.5 hectares at the heart of the Grands Crus hillside. Domaine William Fèvre owns approximately 1.10 hectares here, located on the upper and mid-upper parts of the climat. The vineyard benefits from a south to southwest, amphitheater-shaped exposure, providing optimal sunlight. The Kimmeridgian soil, composed of marl and limestone rich in marine fossils dating back to the Jurassic, gives the wine its distinctive minerality and saline signature. The parcels are farmed biodynamically, with hand harvesting and strict yield management to concentrate the aromas.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Bourgogne was marked by exceptional weather conditions. Warm, steady temperatures from spring through harvest enabled ideal grape ripening. Harvest began on August 25, 2018, one of the earliest dates on record. Despite this earliness, the grapes achieved remarkable concentration while preserving balanced acidity—essential conditions for producing structured Grands Crus suited to aging.

Winemaking and aging

After hand harvesting in small crates and rigorous sorting, the grapes for the 2018 Chablis Grand Cru "Valmur" are pressed pneumatically. The juice undergoes cold settling before fermentation, which takes place partly in stainless-steel tanks and partly in French oak barrels. The estate uses only older barrels, with no new oak, in order to preserve the expression of the terroir. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged on fine lees for 15 to 18 months, adding complexity and texture while maintaining the hallmark mineral purity of the Valmur climat.

Grape variety

Chardonnay (100%)