2024 William Fevre Petit Chablis, Burgundy

Although initially reserved on the nose, this is bursting with grapefruit and ripe pear flavours on the palate. 'It's a wine for thirsty people,' observed winemaker Didier Séguier. Not big or long but pleasantly crisp and refreshing. Fèvre's vineyards focus on the grands and premiers crus, so this is purchased fruit, fermented in tank and still ageing on the lees. It provides marvellous value and will drink well on release and over the next several years.

91 points Charles Curtis MW decanter.com

William Fèvre Petit Chablis is a beautifully precise introduction to Chablis and a textbook expression of cool climate Chardonnay shaped by limestone soils and restraint. While Petit Chablis sits outside the classic Kimmeridgian slopes, the vineyards are planted on higher, more exposed sites with Portlandian limestone, giving the wine brightness, tension and a very clean mineral profile. It is less about weight and more about energy and clarity.

Domaine William Fèvre is one of Chablis’ most respected names, with a long history of championing site expression and purity. The approach in the cellar is deliberately minimal. Fermentation takes place primarily in stainless steel to preserve freshness, with careful handling and no attempt to soften the wine through oak. The focus is on transparency, letting the vineyard and vintage speak clearly.

In the glass, the wine is crisp and inviting. Green apple, lemon zest and white peach lead, followed by subtle floral notes and a distinct chalky edge. There is a faint saline note that hints at oyster shell and wet stone, classic markers of Chablis even at this level.

On the palate, it is dry, focused and refreshing. Citrus and green apple flavours are carried by bright, mouthwatering acidity. The texture is lean and precise, finishing clean and mineral with excellent length for a Petit Chablis. Nothing is exaggerated, everything feels measured and refreshing.

This is an ideal food friendly white. It works beautifully with oysters, seafood, salads, goat’s cheese or simply as a chilled aperitif. Best enjoyed young for its freshness and vibrancy, William Fèvre Petit Chablis is a pure, confident and very satisfying expression of Chardonnay from northern Burgundy.