Chablis 2006 - Domaine William Fèvre

Smiles were broad at William Fèvre with another exemplary range of wines that would serve anyone who wishes to see a textbook-perfect portrayal of the differences in the Chablis vineyards. Didier Seguier continues his brilliant work and quality has never been better. The extra richness of the 2006s will make them more approachable in their youth but as ever, the style here is very mineral, very pure and with no shortage of lip-smacking acidity meaning that they will age gracefully in your cellar for many years to come.

A lovely clean lemon nose. Superb crisp acidity and notes of granny smith apples, the suggestion of white peaches and flowers. Delicate but also quite intense and a benchmark village Chablis. Drink 2008-2012. - armit

(from domaine fruit). A very clean, fresh, bright and airy nose that offers good Chablis character on the white
flower and green fruit nose that introduces energetic and mineral-infused flavors that are both delicious and deliver fine
finishing volume. Good quality at this level. 2009+ - 88 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

From a 1ha plot of old vines, this is bone dry and racy with bundles of white peach fruit, rapier acidity and dissolved minerals – really impressive. Admirable complexity here too, with classic Chablisien notes of gunflint, smoke and iodine. A really classy 1er cru and a total contrast to the flamboyance of the Vaillons. Drink 2008-2014. - armit

Here too the nose is largely dominated by wonderfully pure and intense floral notes but as is typical
of the vineyard, there are also subtle spice hints that lead to textured flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel, ultimately
culminating in a mineral, refined and linear finish. I very much like the underlying sense of tension here and while there is not
quite as much depth as exhibited by the Montmains, it’s close. 2010+ - 89-91points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

Vaillons is one of the sunnier vineyards and this comes through in the expressive nose of apricots and peaches with aromatic floral touches. The palate is precise with delicious nectarine fruit and strong underlying minerality which will emerge more strongly after 2-3 years in bottle. At the moment this is really quite rounded, soft and forward, almost flamboyant in style. Drink 2008-2014. - armit

(from Vaillons and Châtains). An overtly spicy nose that is a mix of floral, green fruit and sea breeze merges into big, rich and intense flavors that are not especially fine though there is admirable concentration and dry extract. This is round and attractive but less persistent than the best of these 1ers. 2010+ - 89-91points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

A real success in 2006, this is a brilliant 1er Cru with exceptional precision and real elegance. It has lovely intensity, a rich, mineral backbone and is incredibly refreshing. This is a complete Chablis, rounded and fragrant yet piercing and pure. Drink 2008-2016. - armit

(from 1/3 Pied d’Aloup and the rest from Chapelot). A wonderfully expressive pure, elegant and airy nose of white flowers and oyster shell notes gives way to round yet precise and palate staining medium full flavors that possess both power and weight yet deliver them with grace and refinement. This wine impressed me to no end for sense of balance and harmony. 2012+ - 91-93 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

The baby Grand Cru, showing the silkiness and finesse of a top vineyard. This is a distinctive, overtly mineral wine with a lovely balance and sense of presence. Once again, this is one of the best value wines in the range. Drink 2008-2018. - armit

(from an impressive 3.63 ha parcel out of only 17 ha and most of it is hard by Les Preuses. Séguier calls this their “baby grand cru” as specific barrels are selected for vine age, concentration and power). A strikingly elegant and pure as white flower and green fruit notes waft from the glass to reveal full, powerful and sappy flavors that retain a fine sense of detail on the penetrating finish that is seriously long. What I like best about this wine though is the underlying sense of harmony because there’s size and energy here in spades yet ultimately, it harnesses that to remain a wine of finesse if not delicacy. Absolutely gorgeous and a grand cru in all but name. 2012+ - 91-94 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

A tight, precise and fine nose but a very relaxed and broad attack to the palate which continues with submerged minerality and stonefruit flavours. There is almost a Côte de Beaune feel about this wine! This is still evolving with impressive underlying power and intensity and should settle out into a fine Grand Cru. Drink 2009-2018. - armit

This is more restrained and reserved aromatically with equally ripe aromas that are somehow cooler and mix floral and spice notes in with the green fruit character that lead to round, robust and well muscled flavors that possess real size and weight plus ample dry extract that coats the mouth on the delicious but serious finish that is brimming with Chablis character. This is really quite impressive and the only nit is a slight touch of backend warmth. 2012+ - 90-93 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

Zesty, fresh grapefruit on the nose with an elegant and airy feel, which combines beautifully with late-arring drive and power. The middle palate and finish, in particular, have a rigidity and concentrated grip which bodes well for the future. This is totally precise and poised. Drink 2009-2018. - armit

(from two parcels of vines that total 2.55 ha, or 22% of the entire appellation). A touch of wood spice with subtle anise, clove and saline notes add nuance to the pretty and elegant mix of white and yellow fruit aromas that introduce round and generous flavors that offer up real volume and mid-palate density, all wrapped around a firm acid spine on the refined, pure and explosive finish. This is positively stunning, certainly in an absolute sense but particularly so in the context of the vintage. One to look for. 2012+ - 92-95 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

From a 2ha subplot of Bougros on a 50° slope, this is nervous, taut and energetic and is full of flinty freshness. A real vin de terroir, this is like a coiled spring, full of intensity, firm acidity and refined stone fruits. Wonderful potential here and one of the great wines of 2006. Drink from 2010-2020. - armit

(from a 2 ha parcel at the bottom section of the vineyard; even so, the vineyard is so steep here that it must be worked entirely by hand as tractors would be dangerous to use). As it always is, this is more elegant and refined than the regular cuvée of Bougros with high-toned citrus, stone and sea breeze aromas dissolving into powerful, focused and pure flavors that are precise and wonderfully intense plus offering the same impressive level of dry extract and an almost aggressively mineral and hugely long finish. I have always very much liked the character of this wine as it manages to pull off blending raw power with elegance and not losing either element in the bargain. 2012+ - 91-94 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

Big, dense wine with a complex nose of marzipan, white peach, mint and aniseed. Searing, nervous and taut with silky textures and remarkable power and potential. This is once again a powerful, masculine expression and is positively bursting with goodness. Give this one time. Drink from 2011-2020+. - armit

(from a parcel of vines that is close to Vaudésir and extends all the way from Grenouilles to the tree line at the top of the hill; in 2006 this vineyard gave only 30 hl/ha). Here the beautifully expressive nose is even more elegant but as Valmur almost always is, the aromas are restrained, cool, refined and practically shout “Chablis” as the saline and oyster shell notes add real depth to the classic green fruit and floral aromas. As the low yields would suggest, this is one concentrated wine with an opulent mouth feel yet no loss of detail on the iodine-infused and austere finish that seems to go on and on. Terrific and by the standards of this wine, it should be approachable a year or two sooner than usual. 2011+ - 92-94 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

Dense and rich with the classic restraint and reserve of the grandest wine. This really has it all – smoke, minerals, golden sunbeams, gorgeous stonefruits- but it is all so tightly wrapped that you really must be patient. This needs a minimum of 4-5 years but should evolve into something quite magnificent. The finish is already long and resonating and this is truly worthy of its place at the top of the tree. Drink 2012-2020+. - armit

(from 4 separate parcels totaling 4.11 ha, 3 of which are all at the top of the slope). An airy, expressive and ultra refined and pure nose of white flower, quinine, saline, minerals and seashore nuances trimmed in discrete wood gives way to rich and robust, indeed huge flavors that are perhaps a bit less refined than those of the Valmur or Preuses but there is another dimension here of depth that more than compensates. A great wine with a long future that should develop slowly yet because of all the mid-palate fat, be enjoyable young. 2013+ - 92-95 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

(from Vaillons and Châtains). This is also quite ripe with upper register but slightly exotic yellow fruit, spice and lovely iodine nuances that lead to sweet, textured, intense and vibrant middle weight flavors offer very good delineation and excellent finishing punch on the noticeably dry finale. In sum, easy to like but not classic. 2009+ - 88 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

(from an impressive 3.63 ha parcel out of only 17 and most of it is hard by Les Preuses. Séguier calls this their “baby grand cru” as specific barrels are selected for vine age, concentration and power). A superbly elegant nose of white flowers, pear and citrus that is perfumed, stylish, high-toned and pure combines with round, precise, intense and strikingly detailed flavors that are quite powerful yet focused and rather linear at present. Excellent quality here with outstanding length. 2010+ - 91 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

This too displays a discreet touch of wood with citrus, oyster shell and algae notes that merge into big, muscular and robust flavors that are quite rich but not heavy or rustic, all wrapped in a sappy and palate staining finish. This is more mineral than usual as well as quite precise for such a big wine and I particularly like the sense of energy as this avoids any sense of heaviness, which is particularly impressive in the context of the vintage as some wines can be heavy. 2011+ - 92 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

(from a 2 ha parcel at the bottom section of the vineyard; even so, the vineyard is so steep here that it must be worked entirely by hand as tractors would be dangerous to use). A deft touch of pain grillé showcases more elegant and more refined green fruit and shell fish nuances that can also be found on the nervous, intense, focused and seriously powerful medium full flavors that ooze dry extract on the almost painfully punchy and relatively austere finish. However, there is so much buffering fat that this remains beautifully well balanced and should age very well plus the underlying sense of tension is most attractive as it gives real lift to the finish. 2012+ - 93 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

(from two parcels of vines that total 2.55 ha, or 22% of the entire appellation). This is the second year running where the Preuses really distinguishes itself with an incredibly complex nose of brioche, spice, green fruit, shell fish, algae and sea breeze notes that merge into wonderfully elegant yet generous, full, forward and strikingly classy flavors that are dense, balanced and unbelievably persistent plus they display more minerality than usual. The acid spine is firm and ripe but not aggressive and should easily see this through at least a decade of cellar time. I normally have a real weakness for the Valmur at this address but the Preuses is really something in 2005. A “wow” wine. 2012+ - 94 points, Allen Meadows' Burghound

Prices - All prices are quoted In Bond (excluding Duty & VAT) and are per case of 12 bottles unless otherwise stated.

Delivery - The majority of the 2006 wines offered will not be here until February 2008. On arrival, we can either:

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