Chablis 1er Cru La Fourchaume „Dédé“ AOC 2023

Wine Description for Chablis 1er Cru La Fourchaume „Dédé“ AOC 2023 from de l’Enclos

Character

A classic Chablis Premier Cru from the renowned vineyard site La Fourchaume, which ranks among the largest and most sought-after Premier Cru vineyards of the appellation. The nickname „Dédé“ lends this wine a personal touch and hints at a special parcel or cuvée. With 13% alcohol, the 2023 vintage displays a balanced equilibrium between freshness and maturity – a testament to the increasingly warmer growing seasons in northern France.

Terroir & Origin

La Fourchaume lies on the right bank of the Serein, north-west of the town of Chablis, and benefits from ideal south-west exposure. The Kimmeridge limestone with its fossilised oyster shells shapes the soils here and imparts those distinctive mineral tensions for which Chablis is world-renowned. The cool continental climate with its cold winters and moderately warm summers ensures the characteristic acidity structure and elegance. The 2023 vintage brought, following a challenging spring, a sunny late summer that produced healthy, aromatically concentrated grapes.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay is the only permitted grape variety in Chablis and displays its purest, most unadorned side here. Unlike in the more southerly Burgundy appellations, Chablis traditionally employs restrained or no new oak, in order not to obscure the crystalline purity and expression of terroir. Domaine de l’Enclos likely practises a craft-based approach with vinification in stainless steel or neutral wood, which emphasises precision and freshness.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A Premier Cru of this calibre demands sophisticated accompaniment: oysters – naturally –, scallops, langoustines or a lobster salad. It also harmonises beautifully with roasted turbot, pike-perch in butter sauce or a medium-aged goat’s cheese. The mineral structure makes it an ideal companion to the classic Escargots de Bourgogne.