A cuvee featured especially in the U.S., coming from purchased fruit and numerous villages, the Fevre 2007 Chablis Champ Royaux showcases luscious, bright lemon and grapefruit in a lively interchange with salt and wet stone. A subtly fusil, smoky aura hangs over this, along with high-toned herbal essences; and oiliness of texture enhances a sense of underlying richness for all of the wine’s brightness. This should drink well for a couple of years. Didier Seguier and his team have managed to follow up their amazing 2006s with an equally remarkable collection of 2007s (though he insists that 6 to 9 months after bottling – when I tasted them – “is the worst time for expressing the purity of fruit”!). Harvesting here began early, on September 6 – the earliest start on record save for 2003 – but without feeling any compunction about taking one’s time, Seguier emphasized. Even so, the task was completed in 11 days, harvesting fruit of impeccable ripeness and harmonious though prominent acidity at a time when many growers were wise not to have begun yet. Without question, the rigorous sorting that all of the grapes undergo here is among the keys to the purity and the transparency to nuance of these wines. As usual at this address, even when one reaches the roughly 80% level of barrique (none, new, though) a smell or taste of wood is the farthest thing from one’s mind.Importer: Henriot, Inc, New York, NY; tel. (212) 605-6706