Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes – 2016
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Vineyard Profile
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Chablis – Fourchaumes 1er Cru is 7,88 acres of 319,98 acres in total
- Viticulture: One man, one plot: There are more than 30 people who are dedicated to caring for the 90-plus hectares (222.39 acres) of Domaine Laroche vineyards, with each person responsible for only one plot. This tailor-made approach allows them to manage the vineyards with precision, speed and accuracy. Everyone at Domaine Laroche practices “lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using chemical intervention only when required): The vineyard is plowed to aerate the soil and encourage development of the root system, as well as the organic life in the soil. Vines are pruned and trained by hand, with a strict pruning and debudding regimen. Leaf plucking occurs to aerate the canopy and avoid the development of botrytis, while trellising aerates the grapes and provides them with favorable exposure.
- Vine Age: Up to 65 years
- Soil: Old vines planted on a slope well-exposed to south and west, sheltered from northern wind, Fourchaumes is one of the most spectacular vineyards of Domaine Laroche.
- Density: 5,880 vines per hectare (2,380 vines per acre); massal selection from Laroche old vines for the new plantings
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Vintage Report
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A mild winter was followed by a cold and rainy spring with frost and hailstone showers on some parts of the appellation. August was warm and dry which favored belated ripening and accelerated the maturation process. The ideal September weather conditions with mild showers and sunshine finally ensured a nice maturation of the grapes. The harvest started on Monday, September 26 and ended on Tuesday, October 4, similar to 2014. The 2016 vintage is precise, fresh, lovely and well-balanced.
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Vinification
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Pressing: The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. Whole bunches in a pneumatic press, then 12 hours settling at 12 C to 15 C (53 F to 59 F) in specially designed wide tanks.
Fermentation: The must ferments for 3 weeks, a part in stainless steel vats and the other rest in French oak barrels.
Maturation: 9 months on fine lees (85% stainless steel, 15% French oak)
Filtration Minimal filtration is used to preserve and maximise the natural character of the wine.
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Alcohol: 12.5%
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Tasting Notes
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A racy, elegant wine with intense minerality, a beautiful structure with delicate notes of white blossom and orchard fruit.
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Images
Reviews
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Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourchaumes Vielles Vignes – 2016 – Vinous – 91 Points
The 2016 Chablis Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru, which comes mainly from L’Homme Mort, is aged 60% in oak and 40% in stainless steel. It has a comparatively rich bouquet with scents of orange blossom and peach skin complementing the citrus peel notes, although, personally, I would have preferred more mineralité here. The palate shows fine tension from the start, quite concentrated but with satisfying energy towards the finish that offers just a hint of stem ginger. There is plenty of energy here and it probably deserves a couple of years in bottle.
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Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru Les Fourchaumes Vielles Vignes – 2016 – The Wine Advocate – 90 Points
The 2016 Chablis 1er Cru Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes is one of the more expressive wines in what's a youthfully reticent range, exhibiting pretty aromas of white peaches and flowers. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, glossy and textural, with a broad attack, succulent acids and a tense, stony finish. Understated but nicely balanced, it's a persuasive Fourchaumes.
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Domaine Laroche, Chablis “Les Fourchaumes Vieille Vignes” 1er Cru – 2016 – 91 Points – Burghound
Once again there is a touch of the exotic to the honeysuckle, mango, lychee and intensely petrol-suffused aromas. There is reasonably good density to the utterly delicious flavors that are a lovely combination of minerality and verve while offering m