2020 Domaine Nathalie et Gilles Fèvre-Fèvre Chablis, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Nathalie Fèvre briefly noted that "in basically the same fashion as 2019, we got killed again in 2021 from a volume perspective as yields were down substantially. Moreover, there was both disease pressure and botrytis to worry about as the harvest was nearing, so it was a juggling act between not losing too much crop to the rot while having sufficient maturities. We picked from the 15th of September and a rainstorm on the 19th definitely complicated matters. Potential alcohols were all over the place depending on the parcel and when it was picked though in the end, they came in between 11 and 12.7%. We did a very severe lees settling because even though we sorted carefully, you want to be absolutely sure that you're working with clean lees. It's still early on but the limited yields will probably necessitate not making all of our cuvées. For example, we already know that we won't be making the old vines Chablis cuvée. I like the style of the vintage quite a bit, I just wish that there was more of it." Fèvre noted that the 2020s, reviewed below, were bottled between September 2021 and January 2022 and a number of them are excellent. Depending on the market and importer preferences, the wines will be bottled under natural cork, screwcap and the Diam brand corks.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

One of Chablis’ most recognizable names, branches of Fèvre family have been producing wine in the region since the early 1800’s.  Nathalie and Gilles Fèvre base themselves in the village of Fontenay-Pres-Chablis, where they operate a Domaine that is impressively large by Chablis standards with over 100 acres under vine in total including a large proportion of classified holdings (Grand Cru Les Preuses, 1er Cru Fourchaume, and 1er Cru Mont de Milieu). It is worth noting that their basic “AC Chablis” holdings are unusually strategic, as most of their acreage sits on the Côte de Fontenay just northeast of the region’s coveted Grand Cru slopes. Nathalie and Gilles are putting the final touches on a new winery that you must see to believe – An impeccably efficient gravity flow setup cut into the side of their main vineyard site in Fontenay. If this is the future of Chablis then the future looks delicious.

Gilles’ Grandfather and father both held the position of President at the leading cooperative La Chablisienne, and Nathalie was the head winemaker at La Chablisienne for 12 years (until recently all of their harvest was delivered to La Chablisienne). You’ll see several different label iterations from this domaine in the market (when we signed them on we had options), and ours pays tribute to the Fèvre family legacy by referencing ancestors Marcel and Blanche.