Chablis, the home of the original un-oaked chardonnay, has always been near the upper limits of vine-growing at the 48th parallel.  It is the classic cool-climate region where spring and autumn frosts are the greatest viticultural risks and vintages really matter.  In addition to its northerly latitude, Chablis’ vineyards lie on both banks of the narrow and cold Sereine River and chilling winds from the Morvan Mountains in Burgundy contribute to the cold.  Vines are trained low to capture as much warmth from the ground as possible and the best sites are on south-facing slopes, up …

The chardonnay wines of Chablis are pure, precise wines, unburdened by the use of new oak.  Among the best winemakers in Chablis is William Fevre, whose wines are virtually transparent in their expression of terroir.  William Fevre makes the full range of Chablis wines, from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru, with over half of its 118 acres in Premiers and Grands Crus.  At the helm is Didier Seguier, who was brought in by the owners of William Fevre, the Henriot family of Champagne and Burgundy.  Didier’s basic philosophy is:  clean …

Chardonnay is the world’s most beloved wine.  While technically a cool climate grape, chardonnay can be, and is, grown everywhere, taking on the personality of the terroir where it is grown.  Amongst all the international grape varietals, chardonnay can be a relatively neutral grape in flavor, acidity and body, which is one of the reasons winemakers use the toolbox to add their own signature to the wine.  One of the main styles of chardonnay made in New World wine regions are those which go through full malolactic fermentation and aged in a percentage …