William Fevre Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru 2020 750ml
Burghound.com
From 1.5ha on soils that are high in clay content above Bougros, together with 1ha just above Bouguerots. Distinct precision here, not a blockbuster but intense and focused. Lovely crystalline fruit and will age beautifully.
Drinking Window 2022 - 2034
Tasted by Andy Howard MW(at Chablis, 11 Oct 2021)
Winemaker
VINEYARD
Les Preuses is probably taken from the word Perreuse (stone), the name given to the ancient Roman road which ran below the current vineyard. Made for ageing thanks to a dense, compact, clay-rich soil resting on a limestone bed.
GRAPE VARIETY: Chardonnay
GROUND OF THE APPELLATION: Limestone and clay
DOMAIN SURFACE: 2.55 hectares
APPELLATION SURFACE: 11.44 hectares
ORIENTATION OF THE PARCELS: From South-Southeast to South-Southwest
TASTING
TASTING NOTE: Floral nose, with fruity aromas enhanced by intense mineral notes and developing lightly smoky touches. Very round on the palate, both full-bodied and refined.
FOOD/WINE PAIRING: Fish, shellfish and other seafood, grilled or in a cream sauce. Poultry and white meat, grilled or in a cream sauce.
PERFECT PAIRING: Lobster ravioli.
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Between 12C to 14C
KNOW-HOW
HARVEST: manual.
VINIFICATION: Use of the principle of gravity so as to avoid all pumping, which could harm the quality of the wine. Brief (1? - 2 hours) pneumatic pressing to obtain a gentle separation of the solid and liquid parts of the grape. Very light static settling of the juice to preserve enough fine lines so that the alcoholic and malolactic fermentation can occur naturally. The must is run into French oak barrels (aged of 6 years in average) for 50 to 60% of the harvest. The remainder is vinified in small stainless steel vats.
MATURING: 14 to 15 months, of which 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels, for 50 to 60% of the harvest. The end of maturation occurs in small stainless steel vats.