Nathalie and Gilles Fèvre - Chablis, France
Preuses: one of the planet’s great vineyards.
"Fèvre" is one of the great names in Chablis.
Nowhere on earth does Chardonnay taste like it does from Chablis.
When you visit Chablis you know it's different. A white-fossiled moonscape of inlaid stone up on limestone-drenched hills: an ingenious creation eons after the fact. The eye-catching quilt of rich-white-rock soils and landlocked fossil seabeds, coupled with the region's perfect climate are a vinous miracle. Everyone agrees wines from this tiny zone - Chablis - when made with little intervention are unique to the world of wine.
E&R's early foray of almost direct imports travel in Burgundy started when we introduced two now classic mainstay wineries to the Oregon market — Domaine Sangouard in the Macon (St. Véran, Pouilly-Fuissé) and Domaine Defaix in Chablis. That Burgundian duo's hallmarks of place, deliciousness, and wallet value perhaps remained unmatched until now.
NATHALIE, JULIE AND GILLES FÈVRE
On one of our visits to Chablis we attended their Annual "Les Fêtes des Vins in Chablis" where we tasted the full range of Chablis from about thirty producers. While a few were wonderful, one — Domaine Nathalie and Gilles Fèvre - was truly sensational. As much as we respect the wines from the more well known Domaine William Fèvre (distant relations back in the day), the overall Chablis value Nathalie and Gilles provide is considerably ahead.
Our Fête meeting with the famille Fèvre was promptly followed by a visit to the winery to taste and learn more. The tasting part was hosted by Nathalie, Gilles and their daughter Julie. We learned that in Chablis, Nathalie was the Chef du Cave (winemaker) at the famed producer La Chablisienne for twelve years, while Gilles has been working with the vines and making wine in Chablis all his life. After many years of selling their grapes to the cooperative of La Chablisienne, in 2003 Nathalie and Gilles charted a new voyage and started their own winery. Completing this formidable family trio, Julie has been following in their big footsteps from a very young age.
The Fèvre trio work close to the earth, looking to pull as much character from their superb holdings as possible. Their vines thrive in parts of the region's most coveted terroir including the prestigious vineyards of Valorent, Fourchaume and Les Preuses. Their work is organic: as they say "in the simplest way possible to let our fabulous terroir express minerality and complexity." The Fèvre Domaine is certified via Haute Valeur Environnementale (France's highest certification level via the Ministry of Agriculture) as well as being a member of Une Terre Des Femmes Leurs Vins and Union de Grand Crus de Chablis.
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Gilles.
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