William Fèvre - Chablis Grand Cru Valmur Domaine 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Didier Séguier has been at the helm since the estate was taken over by Beaune-based Bouchard Père et Fils almost a quarter of a century ago, and since then he has made great strides in improving the quality of the wines. The estate's vineyards are certainly the finest in the Chablis region, both in terms of premier and grand crus, but the diligent, rigorous work in both vineyard and cellar enables us to extract the quintessential minerality of Chablis's Kimmeridgian limestone. These are wines that can regularly be enjoyed young, but which also stand up impeccably to ageing.

Decanter

About the wine:

This wine comes from two south- and southeast-facing parcels in the highest part of the Grand Cru, and tends to produce rather austere wines, even in vintages like 2018. This is a wine for Chablis purists, taut and very spicy, with impressive concentration, bite and length on the palate and a deft integration of 40% new wood. The dry extract gives it an extra backbone.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2018 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur is one of the most powerful and muscular wines in the range, delivering notes of pear, citrus oil, oyster shell, beeswax and white flowers. Full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textured attack, racy acids and a long, mineral finish, it should prove one of Fèvre's most vivacious wines this year.

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Owned by the Henriot group, this estate is the largest Grands Crus owner in Chablis, with over 15 hectares. Its vast vineyard and range of great terroirs are enhanced by meticulous organization: ploughing of the soil, manual harvesting at the optimum date, yield control. Passionate about his vines, Didier Seguier, who has been at the helm of the domaine since 1998, produces pure, well-defined, clean Chablis, using organic methods (certification underway) and even biodynamic methods for the premier and grand crus. With the exception of the Petit Chablis, vinification and ageing for each cuvée are skilfully divided between barrels - never new - and stainless steel tanks. Rejecting any kind of signature, the style seduces with its respect for terroir and expression of minerality, better preserved since the estate gradually converted the entire range to Diam's corks between 2005 and 2010. Organic conversion is underway.

Wine Spectator

Burghound

Jancis Robinson

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

The 2018 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru has a lovely, open bouquet with subtle notes of wild peach and orange pulp. It is well-defined and shows well-integrated oak. The palate is well balanced with fine, taut, fresh acidity. This is one of the saltiest wines of the tasting, with superb length on the palate. This wine has class and breed. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white wine tasting.

James Suckling

About the wine:

What a beautiful white with multiple fine, interwoven levels of fruit and acidity, delivering such a serious, subtle glass. It's medium to full-bodied with a creamy texture and luscious finish. Truly intriguing and stimulating. Drink it or keep it.

Tim Atkin