William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru 'Vaillons' 2014

Although Chablis stalwart William Fèvre may not possess the legendary status of Dauvissat and Raveneau, nor the new-school coolness of the likes of Vocoret or de Moor, its wines are a dependably satisfying entry point to this most northerly of Burgundy appellations.

Established in 1958, Fèvre’s holdings grew rapidly at a time when land was inexpensive. The domaine now has almost 80ha of vineyards to its name, including an impressive range of 1er and Grand Crus covering just about every important site in the region.

Under head winemaker Dider Séguier, everything has been managed organically (with the 1er and Grand Crus farmed using biodynamics) and the entire estate harvested by hand, while new oak has been dialled back in favour of older barrels and stainless steel.

"A notably fresh nose exhibits plenty of classic Chablis character that includes notes of mineral reduction, sea breeze, iodine and a whiff of citrus. The delicious, vibrant and still tightly wound middle weight flavours exude evident minerality onto the sneaky long, delineated and youthfully austere finale. A lovely Vaillons that is developing slowly." 91 Points, Burghound