William Fevre Chablis vineyard

 

Chablis 2006 wines

Normally, it is “bad things that happen in threes”. However, Chablis in 2006 turns the old saying on its head and we are delighted to report on another magnificent vintage for this great region, the third in a row since 2004 and the fourth in five years.

Chablis 2006 wine selection from Domaine William Fèvre

Chablis 2006 wine selection from Domaine Jean-Paul et Benoît Droin

Burgundy 2006 En Primeur

There are many in Chablis who point to global warming as the principal reason. When, as in 2006, the Chablisiens find themselves harvesting before their Côte d’Or cousins, for the first time in living memory, it is hard not to surmise that something is up. The danger of such increased warmth is that there will be more vintages like 2003 where the vast majority of growers struggled to preserve the essential minerality and purity that mark great Chablis. However, in 2006 we have a happy combination of the richness of the 2005 with the minerality of the 2004 and we believe that this might just be the best of the three vintages. It will certainly be fascinating to compare them over the years ahead.

chablis vineyard

Of course, weather patterns are just one, albeit very important, part of the equation. The other is of course man and his ability to harness the best and eject the worst features of a vintage. In Didier Seguier at William Fèvre and Benoît Droin, we offer two of the smartest and most committed vignerons in Chablis today and both have turned in an exemplary range of wines. These are a must for the cellar of any lover of Chablis.

Vintage Report

After a highly successful flowering, the weather pattern was hot and dry in June and July then overcast and humid in August. Fortunately, the August rainfall was half that of the Côte d’Or and the resultant risk of rot was substantially less. When September arrived, bringing perfect bright, warm, sunny days, it was full steam ahead and requests were made for the ban de vendanges (the official start date for harvesting) to be advanced. Rain arrived on 15th September but both Droin and Fèvre were early pickers and therefore had brought in fruit that was largely unaffected.

 

Terms & Conditions

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 wines offered will not be here until February 2008. On arrival, we can either:

  • Store the wines for you in our cellars in Wiltshire. They would be stored Under Bond, which means that Duty and VAT would not be paid until you have them delivered.
  • Deliver to you following payment of Duty (currently at £16.10/ case) and VAT (currently at 17.5%). Duty and VAT rates are subject to change by the Government.