La Chablisienne : Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021 from La Chablisienne

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a pale yellow hue with golden highlights, clear and brilliant.

Nose

The nose opens with mineral aromas of flint, accompanied by floral notes of white flowers and acacia. With aeration, citrus fragrances—particularly lemon zest—mingle with marine nuances reminiscent of oyster shells. Subtle touches of vanilla add an extra dimension to this complex, expressive bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021 reveals a generous, sophisticated structure. The palate shows lovely concentration with lemon flavors, pronounced minerality, and a characteristic saline edge. The texture is both elegant and powerful, driven by vibrant, energizing acidity that gives the wine remarkable tension. Notes of brioche and acacia honey round out the aromatic expression. The long, persistent finish leaves an impression of liquid minerality and saline freshness that invites you to continue tasting.

Food and wine pairings

This Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021 pairs naturally with oysters, creating perfect harmony between the wine’s minerality and the briny character of shellfish. It also pairs elegantly with mussels in cream sauce, tuna crudo, grilled or pan-seared white fish such as halibut or sole, as well as crab and crayfish preparations. Ricotta ravioli in a creamy sauce, asparagus risotto, and white meats served with beurre blanc also make excellent matches. This wine pairs beautifully with seafood and aged goat cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favorably until around 2028, or even beyond for those who prefer more mature wines.

A Chablis Premier Cru true to the typical minerality of Bourgogne

The estate

Founded on May 1, 1923 at the initiative of Abbé Balitrand, La Chablisienne is a winegrowing cooperative that today brings together between 250 and 270 families of winegrowers. With 1,200 hectares of vineyards across all the Chablis appellations, it accounts for around 25% of the region’s total production. Entirely owned by its winegrowing members with no involvement from financial institutions, La Chablisienne stands out for its unique approach: grapes are delivered as must rather than whole bunches, enabling precise quality control and exceptional plot-by-plot traceability. Under the general management of Damien Leclerc and the oenological direction of Estelle Roy, elected Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge 2024, the cooperative has established itself as an essential benchmark for the wines of Bourgogne. La Chablisienne is firmly committed to an environmental approach, with the goal of achieving 100% HVE3 certification by 2026.

The vineyard

The Climat Fourchaume is among the most prestigious Premiers Crus in Chablis, spanning around 34 hectares on the right bank of the Serein River. Located in the northern part of the region, this Climat borders the Grands Crus Preuses and Bougros—proximity that leads many professionals to consider it worthy of being elevated to Grand Cru status. The vines enjoy a particularly favorable southwest exposure, allowing optimal ripening while preserving excellent freshness. The soils, made up of brown clays over Kimmeridgian marls and limestones rich in fossil oyster exogyra virgula dating from the Upper Jurassic, give the wines their hallmark minerality and saline notes. This unique geological composition, 180 million years old, imprints Chablis with its distinctive identity and remarkable mineral expression.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved especially challenging for the Chablis vineyard. An exceptionally warm March, with temperatures reaching 25°C, triggered budbreak about two weeks early. A devastating frost episode in April, with temperatures dropping to minus eight degrees Celsius, destroyed between 80% and 90% of the first buds, leading to yield losses of 60% to 80% depending on the plots. June and July were marked by heavy rainfall and cool temperatures, creating significant downy mildew pressure. Veraison only began in early September, and ripening was uneven, requiring rigorous sorting at harvest. Despite these considerable challenges, the heroic efforts of the winegrowers made it possible to produce wines of exceptional quality, characterized by powerful acidity and a classic mineral expression—marking a return to the traditional Chablis style after several warmer vintages.

Winemaking and aging

The Chablis 1er cru "Fourchaume" 2021 is vinified according to La Chablisienne’s distinctive method, whereby grapes are received as must after pressing by the member winegrowers. This approach allows for optimal quality control and precise plot-by-plot traceability. Vinification takes place in vats and 400-liter barrels, with around 30% of the wine aged in barrels, of which a maximum of 50% are new oak. Aging on fine lees lasts 12 to 20 months—an intentionally extended period that allows the wine to develop aromatic complexity and structure. This philosophy of prolonged aging, characteristic of La Chablisienne, favors the expression of terroir and minerality rather than seeking early bottling. Fermentations are carried out at relatively high temperatures to preserve complexity, and the extended contact with lees refines the wine’s texture.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay