Why it matters
The producer
Fourchaume Héritage links Le Domaine d'Henri to the Fourchaume vineyard, while Saint Pierre gathers fruit from several named parcels. The domaine's two named wines work at different geographical scales, one drawing from Maligny, Fourchaume 1er Cru, Flyes and Chablis, the other carrying the Fourchaume name.
The domaine was named in tribute to Michel Laroche's father Henri. Its Chablis range is built around parcel sources, named vineyard fruit and cellar work that includes indigenous yeast, stainless steel, oak, stoneware amphora and fine lees.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Saint Pierre takes its grapes from Maligny, Fourchaume 1er Cru, Flyes and Chablis. Maligny is identified as a lieu dit, while Fourchaume is a Premier Cru source within the parcel selection.
The labels therefore move between Chablis fruit gathered from several places and Fourchaume Héritage, the Chablis Premier Cru wine named for one vineyard. The range keeps the broader Chablis appellation beside a more specific Premier Cru address.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Saint Pierre is hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeast in stainless steel, followed by 100% malolactic fermentation. It stays on fine lees for 14 to 17 months before bottling. Fine lees are spent yeast cells left after fermentation, and time on them can add roundness and savoury depth without adding sweetness.
Fourchaume Héritage 2022 uses 70% oak demi muids and 30% stoneware amphora, with 22 months on fine lees. Oak can bring spice and gradual oxygen contact, while stoneware gives the wine a vessel without oak flavour.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range has Saint Pierre and Fourchaume Héritage. Saint Pierre 2023 is Chablis made from several parcels and has a drinking window of 5 to 10 years. Fourchaume Héritage is the Chablis Premier Cru bottling tied to the Fourchaume vineyard.
The two wines therefore differ in range position as well as vineyard address. Saint Pierre gathers fruit across several named sources, while Héritage carries the name of one Premier Cru vineyard.