Premier Cru Fourchaume Domaine
The vintage
After a relatively mild and very dry winter, the vine began to bud in the last week of March. Fortunately, at the end of March, just before the first frosts, the vintage showed a few days' delay compared to the average of the past 20 years. Despite the frost and cold, we observe a good emergence of clusters. Flowering took place at the end of May under excellent conditions, with little shatter or millerandage. The vine caught up and now shows a 10-day advance. August 31 marks the beginning of the harvest with all the teams. The sanitary condition is perfect, the skins are thick, and the grapes are pulpy with a good juice yield.
Location
Appellation of 17 hectares on the right bank of the Serein, in the exact continuation of the Grands Crus slope, separated by a simple path from the Grand Cru Les Preuses, the appellation produces powerful and mineral wines.
Terroir
Marl with fairly deep soils. The plots cover 3.63 hectares located in the Vaulorent locality, representing 3.2% of the appellation, oriented from southeast to southwest.
Winemaking
Application of the principle of gravity to avoid any pumping, which could alter the quality of the wine. Short-duration pneumatic pressing (1h30 to 2h00) for a delicate separation between the solid and liquid parts of the grapes. Very light static settling to retain enough fine lees for the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations to occur naturally. The vinifications are carried out in stainless steel vats. Aging lasts 17 months, including 5 to 6 months on fine lees in French oak barrels for 25% of the blend. The aging process finishes in small stainless steel tanks.
Tasting
Very aromatic bouquet combining notes of fruit and flowers.
The palate is very elegant, blending power, finesse and roundness.
Grapes
Chardonnay
: 100 %