William Fèvre
Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2021
Chablis 1er Cru
Montmains is one of the most distinctive and characterful Premier Crus in Chablis, located on the left bank of the Serein on a very stony Kimmeridgian terroir that gives the wines pronounced mineral aromas, extraordinary power, and excellent aging potential. It is a site that demands attention and rewards patience, producing wines that sit at the more structured and concentrated end of the Premier Cru spectrum.
Domaine William Fèvre’s holdings in Montmains span three lieux-dits: Montmains, Butteaux, and Forêt, on southeast-facing plots with fairly deep soils over an airy Kimmeridgian subsoil of marl and clays. In the hands of the largest Grand Cru owner in Chablis, and one of the appellation’s defining producers since 1959, Montmains is given the same meticulous attention as the domaine’s most celebrated parcels. This a Premier Cru of nerve, precision, and depth.
VINEYARD
Montmains is a 118-hectare Premier Cru on the left bank of the Serein, on very well-oriented but frost-sensitive land. Its very stony terroir gives the wines a distinct typicity: pronounced mineral aromas, extraordinary power, and excellent aging potential. Domaine William Fèvre's plots are located in three lieux-dits within the appellation, Montmains, Butteaux, and Forêt, on southeast-facing slopes with fairly deep soils over an airy Kimmeridgian subsoil of marl and clays. These plots are considered highly representative of what makes this Premier Cru so compelling.
WINEMAKING
Gravity is applied throughout to avoid pumping and preserve the integrity of the fruit. Short pneumatic pressing of 1.5 to 2 hours ensures a delicate separation of solids and liquids. Very light static settling retains enough fine lees for alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to occur naturally. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in total, with 30% of the blend spending 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels before finishing in stainless steel.
VINTAGE
2021 was one of Chablis's most frost-damaged vintages in recent memory. Early budbreak triggered by warm late-March temperatures left fragile buds exposed, and black frost struck from April 6 onward, dropping below zero on 17 nights through April 24. Protective measures were deployed but damage was severe. A temperature rise in June helped the vines recover, with rapid mid-June flowering and vigorous growth, though yields remained very low. Prolonged summer rains slowed ripening further, with harvest beginning on September 17.
TASTING NOTE
Structured, nervy, and mineral on the nose and palate, with very precise, fresh fruit and exemplary concentration. The finish is long and defined, with the characteristic power and depth of the Montmains terroir.
FOOD PAIRING
Oysters, grilled lobster, turbot, scallops, aged goat cheese, fish in cream sauce
Color
White
Blend %
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Chablis 1er Cru
Alcohol
12.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$89
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
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