Viniou Reviews
La Chablisienne’s Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2023 is a refined white Burgundy that captures the purest expression of Chardonnay. Sourced from the renowned Fourchaume climat, this Premier Cru sits on the right bank of the Serein river, a site celebrated for its elegance and depth. The 2023 vintage was shaped by a season that balanced cool freshness and ripe, healthy fruit, enhancing the wine’s vibrant acidity and aromatic complexity. Vinification here typically favours stainless steel or neutral vessels, designed to preserve the pristine fruit character and hallmark minerality of Chablis, allowing the unique terroir to shine through without overt influence from oak.
Chablis, at the northernmost tip of Burgundy, is unmistakable for its cool climate and distinctive Kimmeridgian limestone soils laced with ancient marine fossils. These soils impart the region’s signature notes of wet stone and oyster shell, while brisk temperatures foster lively acidity and refined citrus aromas. Chablis has historically been prized for its focus and nerve, offering a counterpoint to the richer chardonnays further south in the Côte d’Or. Premier Cru sites like Fourchaume are particularly esteemed for their south-west exposures, delivering wines with both finesse and a subtle generosity of fruit.
This Chablis Premier Cru will beautifully accompany seafood, especially oysters, scallops in beurre blanc, or a platter of fresh langoustines. Its precise minerality and tension are ideal alongside sushi or sashimi, while the wine’s mouth-watering acidity can cut through richer dishes like chicken in a creamy tarragon sauce or even a classic local delicacy such as gougères. For a regional touch, pair it with a pike perch fillet sauced with Chablis and shallots.
Best enjoyed chilled but not icy, serve this Chablis between 10-12°C. Allow it to breathe briefly in the glass to bring out subtle notes of white flowers, green apple, lemon zest and the unmistakable saline minerality. The Fourchaume cuvée can be cellared for a few years, gaining further complexity, but its lively freshness makes it wonderfully accessible already in its youth.
