La Chablisienne : Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume" 2022 La Chablisienne

Tasting

Colour
Clear and bright, it reveals a lovely pale gold hue enhanced by delicate golden highlights.

Nose
Initially restrained, with subtle notes of flint and smoky, toasted nuances, the bouquet opens up with aeration. It then releases charming floral scents reminiscent of rose, intertwined with white-fleshed fruit aromas such as peach and pear, all crowned by a touch of vanilla.

Palate
From the very first sip, the palate offers remarkable volume and a dense texture. The wine reveals itself to be rich and perfectly balanced, combining the lusciousness of ripe fruit with vibrant acidity and a typical mineral backbone. The finish lingers on delicious citrus and toasted notes.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée is superb with seafood and shellfish, pairing beautifully with a scallop carpaccio with citrus, a sea bream fillet marinated with tarragon, or a Milanese-style risotto. Its structure also allows it to accompany fine white meats, such as poultry or veal coated in a smooth beurre blanc sauce.

Service and Storage

To fully appreciate this Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume" 2022, it is recommended to serve it chilled, at a temperature between 8 and 12°C. Although already very appealing in its youth, its aging potential allows it to evolve favourably in the cellar until around 2030.

Other Characteristics

This white wine from France has an alcohol content of 12.5%.

The Mineral and Fruity Expression of a Chablis Premier Cru by La Chablisienne

The Estate

Founded in 1923 at the initiative of Abbé Balitrand to address the economic crisis, La Chablisienne is an essential institution in Burgundy. Bringing together more than two hundred winegrowing families, the cooperative oversees a vast vineyard spanning 1,200 hectares. A pioneer in its approach, it stands out for receiving harvests in the form of must, ensuring complete control over the winemaking process. Now led by Damien Leclerc, La Chablisienne crafts cuvées that precisely reflect the mosaic of Chablis climats.

The Vineyard

The Fourchaume climat stretches along the right bank of the Serein, at the heart of the Chablis appellation. The vines, averaging around thirty years of age, benefit from sun-drenched southwest and southeast exposures, promoting optimal berry ripening. They are rooted between 135 and 198 metres above sea level in deep soils typical of the Kimmeridgian era. This clay-limestone terroir, dotted with tiny fossilised oysters, gives the wine its purity and distinctive mineral signature.

The Vintage

The year 2022 began with early spring frost episodes. The rest of the growing season, however, unfolded under warmer and drier weather conditions. This mild climate helped keep disease pressure low in the vineyards, resulting in steady yields and a healthy harvest.

Winemaking and Aging

The production of the Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume" 2022 begins with cold settling to clarify the juices. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations then take place simultaneously in tanks and barrels. The wine is aged on fine lees for a period of 12 to 16 months. This maturation is split between 70% stainless steel tanks and 30% oak barrels, with the proportion of new wood not exceeding half, thereby preserving the identity of the terroir.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay.