Coming from an eight-acre parcel of Fourchaume Premier Cru that is directly next to the Grand Cru Les Preuses, it’s no surprise the Vaulorent is considered the "baby Grand Cru" at Fevre, and it consistently outperforms Grand Crus that cost many times more.
William Fevre continues to be one of the premier Chablis producers today, second only to Raveneau and Dauvissat. Thankfully, the wines of William Fevre are much more available than the others, especially the Grand Crus. Last night I had the opportunity to sample the 2012 Vaulorent, pairing it with a traditional French dish, chicken francaise. For me, this offering never fails to deliver. Layered and rich, oyster shells coupled with explosive mineral characteristics. It complemented this dish with perfection. Always affordable, this Premier Cru could easily be mistaken for a Grand Cru. Scoop some up and see for yourself.
2012 William Fevre Chablis Fourchaume de Vaulorent - $64.95 btl – 95 pts, JG
“The stunning nose soars from the glass in an aromatic constellation of apple, pear, tangerine, a very complex base of flinty minerality (that recalls Les Clos more than a bit!), lime and orange blossoms and a lovely, smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nascently complex, with stunning transparency, a rock solid core, grand cru dimension, racy acids and simply stunning length and grip on the endless and snappy finish. This is a great, great bottle of Chablis!” - John Gilman, A View from the Cellar