Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fèvre

The Fèvre name is synonymous with Chablis – and Gilles is related to the William Fèvre line via his grandfather. Although not as famous, this smaller estate is well worth seeking out. Nathalie and Gilles met at university and the couple decided to establish their own estate in 2004, where their daughter Julie has now joined them.

Gilles’s great-grandfather had planted vines around Fontenay près-Chablis, and until 2004 the Fèvre family was a significant supplier of La Chablisienne (where Nathalie also worked as an oenologist). Today, Gilles works on the viticulture side, while Nathalie and Julie are in charge in the winery.

They farm 50 hectares in total – including 12 in Premier Cru Fourchaumes and a parcel of Grand Cru Les Preuses. Yields are low to encourage concentration and terroir expression, aided by a significant portion of old vines, with some planted in the 1950s. They employ some organic practices and the vineyards are certified Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 (the highest level available).

The winemaking here is all about preserving purity, with very little oak used at all. In fact, the wines are fermented and aged exclusively in stainless steel, apart from their Grand Cru Les Preuses which sees 30% oak for fermentation and maturation (half of which is new), and their parcel of Premier Cru Fourchaumes Vaulorent which sees 15% oak (half of which is new). The resulting wines are precise, linear and mineral expressions of classic Chablis.