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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent, Domaine William Fèvre

2023 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent, Domaine William Fèvre

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Concentrated, mineral and strikingly precise, Vaulorent sits at the serious end of Premier Cru Chablis. Lemon oil, pear and white peach meet white flowers, flint and oyster shell, with a subtle nutty reduction adding extra depth. The deep marl soils give the wine impressive power, but the fruit remains cool, bright and unmistakably Chablis.

On the palate, it is layered and chalky, with citrus, orchard fruit and a long saline finish driven by racy acidity. The French oak brings breadth rather than obvious woodiness, while the extended élevage gives the wine a polished, almost Grand Cru-like presence. This is a compelling buy for customers who want Premier Cru Chablis with real concentration, pedigree and the structure to reward further ageing.

For when: A serious dinner needs Chablis with mineral power, tension and near-Grand Cru presence.

Pairs with: Lobster, turbot, scallops, roast monkfish, langoustines, poultry in cream sauce, Comté or truffle dishes.

Vaulorent is technically part of Fourchaume, but its position makes it exceptional. It is the only Premier Cru to share the same slope as the Grands Crus, separated from Les Preuses by little more than a path. Domaine William Fèvre owns 3.63 hectares, over a fifth of the climat, and treats the best parcels as a distinct bottling capable of remarkable concentration and longevity.

Whats in the bottle
Chardonnay 100%

Notable Awards
95 Points, Decanter

£79.00 - £79.00
£79.00
£79.00 - £79.00
£79.00
Availability:
In stock

Domaine William Fèvre is one of the benchmark estates of Chablis, with family winegrowing roots stretching back more than 250 years. William Fèvre took charge of the domaine in 1959 and steadily assembled one of the appellation’s strongest collections of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards.

The modern style has been shaped by Didier Séguier, whose approach prioritises vineyard character, gentle gravity handling, restrained oak and long élevage. Rather than pushing Chardonnay towards richness for its own sake, the wines are built around minerality, freshness and the individual personality of each climat.

Environmental work has become equally important. Organic practices have been employed extensively across the estate since 2000, with biodynamic viticulture adopted across Premier and Grand Cru parcels from 2010. The domaine was also the first in Chablis to achieve HVE3 certification in 2014.

Since 2024, Domaine William Fèvre has been part of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. For customers, Vaulorent is one of the most exciting wines in the Premier Cru range, combining Chablis precision with concentration and structure that often approach Grand Cru territory.

The 2023 Vaulorent is made from 100% Chardonnay. Domaine William Fèvre owns 3.63 hectares, representing 21.35% of the 17-hectare Vaulorent climat. The parcels run from south-east to south-west exposure, capturing plenty of sunlight, while the fairly deep marl soils bring both power and mineral definition.

The 2023 season began with a mild, dry winter and minimal frost damage. A hot May was followed by June storms, while summer warmth and rainfall accelerated ripening. Dry conditions in August briefly slowed véraison before an early September harvest delivered generous quantities of healthy fruit.

The grapes are handled gently by gravity without pumps, followed by pneumatic pressing for around 1.5 to 2 hours and light static settling. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine then ages for 19 months, with 40% spending five to six months in French oak barrels before maturation is completed in small stainless-steel tanks. Alcohol is 13%, residual sugar is zero, and the wine is bottled under DIAM.

The result is a powerful but finely controlled Premier Cru, with lemon, pear and white peach layered over flint, oyster shell and a long saline finish. The oak gives texture rather than flavour, while the extended ageing builds concentration and polish. It is already impressive with air and rich seafood, but the chalky structure and racy acidity make this an especially strong candidate for further cellaring.