Why it matters
The producer
Jean-Marc Brocard was born into a farming family in the Côte d'Or, left agriculture to become an engineer, and founded the vineyard in the 1970s. The family estate is based in Préhy, in Chablis. Julien Brocard, Jean-Marc's son, leads the estate and is a pioneer of biodynamics in Chablis.
Julien joined the family vineyard in 1995 after completing engineering studies. The domaine's named Fourchaume bottle carries the Chablis Premier Cru designation, with ageing that combines large old oak and stainless steel.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Préhy is the home base, while Chablis is the appellation carried by the signature wine. Fourchaume adds the Premier Cru designation, a recognized vineyard level within the Chablis hierarchy. The label therefore names both the wider Chablis appellation and a specific Premier Cru site.
Fourchaume grows on Kimmeridgian soil, a calcareous clay layer about 40 to 50 centimetres deep with a large share of fossilized shellfish. Calcareous clay can drain excess water while retaining moisture around the vines. In the wine, that ground appears beside the fruit as a mineral note.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Grape transfers from reception through must settling move by gravity, without mechanical pumping or human intervention. Base Chablis spends its élevage in stainless steel with all lees retained, one racking at the end of fermentation and no bâtonnage. Lees are the fine yeast solids left after fermentation; keeping them can add palate weight and savoury flavour, while no bâtonnage means they are not stirred.
Premium cuvées use concrete eggs and traditional foudres. Fourchaume uses mixed ageing, with two thirds in large old oak barrels for approximately 14 to 15 months and one third in stainless steel tanks.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range moves from base Chablis wines to premium cuvées. Base Chablis uses stainless steel élevage, while the higher cuvées use concrete eggs and traditional foudres. Fourchaume sits in the Premier Cru category as a named white wine from Chablis, with the bottle's label joining the appellation, site name and vineyard level.
Across the range, stainless steel gives the base wines a clean vessel profile, while lees ageing can add palate weight and savoury flavour. The 2024 Fourchaume is pale yellow with silvery highlights. It combines yellow apple, mineral, grilled lemon, honeydew, butter and herbs in a nuanced, fruity style.