Domaine Laroche : Chablis 1er cru "Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes" 2012

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chablis 1er cru "Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes" 2012 from Domaine Laroche

Tasting

Appearance

The color displays a pale, bright straw-yellow hue.

Nose

The nose reveals beautiful aromatic purity with remarkable intensity. Floral notes unfold with elegance, accompanied by aromas of stone fruit and ripe lemon. Hints of fresh almond and a signature stony minerality round out this refined bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its harmonious balance of peach, apple, lemon, and pronounced minerality. The structure is racy and elegant, carried by vibrant acidity that brings energy. A subtly creamy texture develops, while the intense minerality of the Kimmeridgian terroir is expressed in full. The flavors linger with precision through to a long, taut finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis premier cru is an ideal match for oysters and seafood. It also pairs perfectly with delicate fish, lobster, langoustines, or Japanese preparations featuring raw fish. Creamy poultry dishes and veal in a light sauce also make excellent pairings. Mild, aged cheeses provide a harmonious complement to this cuvée.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Chablis 1er cru "Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes" 2012 at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. About fifteen minutes of aeration allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

A Chablis from Burgundy true to the hallmark minerality of its appellation

The estate

Founded in 1850 by Jean-Victor Laroche, Domaine Laroche is among the leading owners of Premier Cru and Grand Cru parcels in Chablis. Under the guidance of Michel Laroche, who joined the family business in 1967, the estate expanded considerably to reach nearly 90 hectares of vines. Since 2010, the property has been owned by AdVini and continues its commitment to quality and sustainable viticulture. Today, Romain Chevrolat oversees technical and oenological operations, while Jean-Baptiste Mouton serves as Managing Director.

The vineyard

The Chablis premier cru "Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes" comes from a 2.44-hectare parcel located on the eastern bank of the Serein, north of the town of Chablis. This vineyard benefits from ideal southeast exposure and natural protection from northerly winds. The vines, seventy years old at the time of the 2012 harvest, are rooted in the Kimmeridgian soils characteristic of the appellation, made up of limestone and clay enriched with oyster fossils. These lean, well-drained soils give the wine its distinctive minerality and lively acidity.

The vintage

The year 2012 in Chablis proved complex and demanding. After a relatively mild winter, spring was marked by frosts in April and early May, followed by a difficult flowering in June under cool, rainy conditions. These weather challenges created significant pressure from downy mildew and powdery mildew. Fortunately, August and September brought more favorable, warm and relatively dry conditions, allowing ripening to be completed in good conditions. Harvest took place between September 24 and October 8, with the Premier Cru parcels picked by hand during the first week.

Winemaking and aging

After a meticulous hand harvest, the grapes for the Chablis 1er cru "Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes" 2012 were gently pressed as whole clusters using a pneumatic press. The must was then cold-settled for around twelve hours. Alcoholic fermentation took place in French oak barrels at a controlled temperature of about 20°C over three weeks. The wine then underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by around nine months of aging on fine lees in third- and fourth-fill barrels. Minimal filtration preceded bottling.

Grape variety

This white wine from Burgundy is 100% Chardonnay.