Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023《ZTF301》

THE ESTATE'S VINEYARDS COVER A TOTAL OF 50 HECTARES, INCLUDING 33 HECTARES IN CHABLIS, 1.5 HECTARES IN PETIT CHABLIS, 12.7 HECTARES IN PREMIER CRU, AND 2.3 HECTARES IN GRAND CRU. THE VINEYARDS ARE SPREAD OVER A WIDE AREA, ENJOYING EXCELLENT TERROIR CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE PREMIER CRU AND GRAND CRU VINEYARDS. THESE CONDITIONS NOT ONLY PROVIDE THE VINES WITH THE NECESSARY WATER AND NUTRIENTS, BUT ALSO IMPART A SUBTLE MINERALITY TO THE GRAPES. THE SOILS OF THE PREMIER CRU VINEYARDS ARE TYPICAL KIMMERIDGIEN SOILS, RICH IN MINERALS AND WITH SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATIONS OF LIMESTONE AND CHALK. THE VINEYARDS ARE SITUATED ON A GENTLY SLOPED, SUNNY SOUTHERN LOCATION, IDEALLY ABSORBING SUNLIGHT AND HEAT.

Winemaking

FURTHERMORE, DURING THE WINEMAKING AND MATURATION PROCESS, THE WINERY ALLOWS THE WINE TO REMAIN IN FULL CONTACT WITH ITS LEES FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS, DEVELOPING COMPLEX AROMAS SUCH AS BREAD AND BISCUITS, AND ENHANCING THE WINE'S SMOOTHNESS AND TEXTURE. THE WINERY MATURES 15% OF THE WINE IN OAK BARRELS, WHILE THE REMAINDER IS AGED IN TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED STAINLESS STEEL TANKS. THE TWO ARE THEN BLENDED BEFORE BOTTLING. TO ENSURE THE QUALITY AND TASTE OF THE WINE, THE WINERY PAYS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WINE'S STORAGE ENVIRONMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, STORING THE WINE IN A TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED CELLAR UNTIL SHIPMENT.

THE LES PREUSES GRAND CRU VINEYARD COVERS 2.3 HECTARES, WITH GRAPES PLANTED BETWEEN 1950 AND 1973. 30% OF THE GRAPES ARE AGED IN NEW OAK BARRELS. THE WINE OFFERS AROMAS OF PEAR AND WHITE PEACH, PERFECTLY COMPLEMENTED BY SUBTLE FLORAL, CITRUS, AND HERBAL NOTES ON THE PALATE, FOLLOWED BY A MINERALITY. THE PALATE IS DENSE AND DEEP, EXUDING HONEY, BUTTER, AND FRESH, RIPE FRUIT. HIGH ACIDITY CREATES A CRISP, LINGERING FINISH.

Rating

Vinous 92

The 2023 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru has a little oak to be subsumed, though this is welldefined with a sense of focus and mineralité. The palate is fresh and saline on the entry, withfine weight and depth. lt feels fluid, harmonious and slightly candied toward the finish. l lookforward to seeing how this will age in bottle.