William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2009 750ml

Here the wood influence is somewhat more noticeable though not enough to materially detract from the otherwise pure, cool and high-toned white flower, stone and sea breeze suffused aromas that complement well the rich, powerful and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess fine focus and verve on the explosively long and oyster shell-infused finish. This is seriously impressive in absolute terms but especially so in the context of the vintage.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Chablis
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White

Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.