The patterns and paradigms of Burgundy are forever shifting - there is no doubt the region has overseen a whirlwind few years, with price points soaring upwards and demand more fervent than ever. Amidst all that exposure and dissection, it can be easy to lose sight of what makes this small part of the world so very special. This weekend, we present something of a spectacle, focusing solely on the Chardonnay from across three beloved estates - William Fevre, Olivier Leflaive and Domaine Faiveley!
The vineyard hierarchy at Fevre is always a fascination for us, encompassing 90 separate parcels across 70 hectares of land throughout Chablis; we wanted to present a trio that best represents that versatility, which you'll find on our tasting table come Saturday (17th May) between 12 and 2pm, with their AC Village Chablis, Premier Cru 'Vaillons' and Grand Cru 'Les Preuses'. Next to them will shine four expressions from Faiveley, covering Rully (northern Côte Chalonnaise, known for steely-clean mineral styles imparted by clay-limestone soils), the Clos Rochette vineyard (owned solely by Faiveley since 1933, bringing fuller-bodied wines with lengthy oak treatment), Champ Gains (chalk-dominant Premier Cru land at the top of the slope Puligny-Montrachet), and its neighbour Les Referts (bottom of the same slope, a stone's throw away from Meursault). We finish off with Olivier Leflaive, with our two favourite wines of theirs from the 2022 vintage that has impressed us immensely off its first showings - the 'En Remilly' Premier Cru from a speck of land towering high above Puligny, and a wonderful village-level Chassagne-Montrachet. 2022 is certainly a modern great in the making, hence our heavy focus on it across the board here.
These are three names we would rarely place together all at one time, perhaps in fear of some palate conflict! But we believe you'll find, come midday on Saturday, just how effortlessly these nine selections will glide from one to the other, all the while painting a portrait of a region many consider the be-all and end-all.
A White Burgundy Spectacle
Saturday 17th May (12 to 2pm)
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William Fevre AC Chablis 2022 -
$60 on special this week; $69 RRP
"Aromas of sweet orchard fruit, white flowers and oyster shell introduce the 2022 Chablis Village, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and charming wine that's pure and saline. This cuvée benefits from a considerable proportion of old vines, planted in the 1950s and 1960s, and it's hand harvested in small cases." - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
William Fevre Chablis 'Vaillons' 1er Cru 2022 -
$125 on special this week; $145 RRP
"Delivering scents of orange oil, white flowers and oyster shell, the 2022 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave, with racy acids and a saline finish, showing little trace of the hot, sunny vintage. As usual, it's derived from old vines in Les Minots (that are a source for the Fèvre massal selection), as well as holdings in Roncières and Chatains." - 93 Points William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
William Fevre Chablis 'Les Preuses' Grand Cru 2022 -
$255 on special this week; $295 RRP
"The 2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses wafts from the glass with aromas of orange zest, oyster liquor, brine and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, it's more and intensely mineral, underlining its role as the most ethereal of the grand cru climats." - 95 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Faiveley Rully 'Les Villeranges' 2022 -
$70 on special this week; $79 RRP
"The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. The musts are extracted using a pneumatic press before being settled. The ageing period lasts 16 months with regular stirring whilst the rest of the blend is aged in vats. This allows the wine to develop delicate woody notes whilst conserving its freshness and distinctive character. Clear, light yellow colour and a fresh nose characterised by flinty, mineral notes. The palate is smooth, round and very distinctive with a delicate touch of acidity that lingers on the fresh finish." - Producer Notes
Faiveley Mercurey 'Clos Rochette' 2022 -
$72 on special this week; $82 RRP
For those who recall the utterly gorgeous 2017 Clos Rochette from 5 years ago (a wine so good people still ask us today if there are any available hidden somewhere!) we're thrilled with this 2022 edition of this perpetually great value cuvee gets very close in quality. Deliving a similar flavour profile, balance and killer value, we think this medium-full bodied white Burgundy is very difficult to beat - Our Notes
Faiveley Puligny-Montrachet 'Champ Gains' 1er Cru 2022 -
$295 on special this week; $330 RRP
"What a complex nose of white peaches, apricots and white flowers with a hint of fresh almonds. Considering the ample weight and concentration of this, it remains very straight and precise right through the long and focused finish. Only just beginning to open up. From a warm site with a very stony soil. From organically grown grapes. Matured in 50% new oak and 50% once-used oak." - 95 Points, Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com
Faiveley Puligny-Montrachet 'Les Referts' 1er Cru 2022 -
$295 on special this week; $330 RRP
"‘Les Referts’, located at the bottom of the village of Puligny-Montrachet, on the edge of Meursault, is a great classic of the appellation. Extending over a 0.37-hectare parcel within a larger 5-hectare area, this appellation is the signature of an exceptional terroir. The compact marly soils impart a pronounced minerality and remarkable tension. This wine is an unmissable appellation for connoisseurs, due to its authenticity and depth stemming from the soil’s ability to withstand drought. The seductive nose is both subtle and bewitching, combining scents of citrus and exotic fruit harmoniously with light toasty notes. Fresh almond-like sweetness emerges on the palate, balanced with a subtle mineral tension. This remarkable wine stands out for its elegance and lingering aromas." - Producer Notes
Olivier Leflaive St Aubin 'En Remilly' 1er Cru 2022 -
$185 on special this week; $210 RRP
"On an exposed plateau, high above the sloping vineyards of Puligny, lies En Remilly: a cool, windswept site, littered with chalk pebbles. In a warm, sunny vintage like this, En Remilly comes into its own: ripe and expansive yet precise too, always sur pointes. Scented and mineral, with supple poached pear fruit and an airy buttercream texture. Lacy and fine." - Producer Notes
Olivier Leflaive Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc 2022 -
$260 on special this week; $295 RRP
"There is just enough wood present to warrant pointing out framing the ripe and fresh aromas of petrol, rosemary oil and a variety of white orchard fruit. The attractively textured medium weight flavors also possess surprisingly good power while offering very good depth and persistence on the balanced finale. This is more refined than is typical for villages-level Chassagne and worth considering." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Prices valid until Thursday the 22nd of May