2022 Fabien Coche Meursault Les Luchets, Burgundy

Les Luchets lies above the village quite high on the slope, which is where many of the younger vignerons favour for cooler more mineral wines terroir and better natural acidity. This vineyard is the ‘signature’ vineyard of his cousins, the Roulot family. The aromas seem to show a cooler aspect with more citric acidity lifting the fruit and lengthening the palate. This shows great structure and length finishing very long with a beautifully formed line of fruit on the palate. A wine to wait a few years for.

Domaine Fabien Coche ... is one of the most underrated sources of high-quality white Burgundy in the Côte de Beaune. Alain Coche took his time, leaving his wines on the lees to mature at a leisurely pace for two winters, and produced classically balanced, textbook Meursault that evolved beautifully in the cellar; today, his son Fabien follows suit, with a few small refinements: today, the Coche harvest takes two weeks, not one, with each parcel brought in at optimal maturity, and there are more larger-format barrels in the cellar alongside the regular Burgundian pièces. These are not stylized, flashy wines, and they aren’t as dramatic as some of the region’s more sought-after domaines on release, but readers with the patience to cellar them will be amply rewarded.

William Kelley robertparker.com

Fourth-generation vigneron Fabien Coche took over his family’s domaine in 2005. Hailing from one of Burgundies most famed families (Coche-Dury was part of the same domaine until 1940 and is run by his cousin Raphael), Fabien has quickly become the Coche of the current generation making the most waves. His enviable vineyard holdings total nearly 11 hectares spread across Meursault, Monthelie, Pommard and Auxey-Duresses.
Fabien Coche’s father is a first cousin of Jean-Francois Coche-Dury and it is not so long ago that the two domaines shared almost identical labels. Fabien started working with his father in 1998 and since 2005 has taken over the running and now has his own his own distinctive labels.

Organic farming practices here since 1998 for the 40 plots of vines that the family owns and now with 20 vintages experience. Average vine age is impressive here with more than 60% of vines over 60 years old.

Stylistically the wines at this estate are incredibly pure with little (if any) discernable mark from the hand of the winemaker with new oak at a low 25% and a notable percentage of larger format barrels. I would place the style of his wines in-between that of his cousins Coche-Dury and Roulot. Fabiens wines have the acidity and purity of Roulot without the trademark SO2 which tends to mark Roulots wines when young, and also without the extravagant luxuriant texture that so defines the wines of Coche-Dury. Here we simply find real old vine depth delivering some of the purest expressions of each vineyard site that we have seen right the way through the range from Aligote right to the very top.

The 2022 Fabien Coche Meursault Les Luchets from Burgundy is an exquisite expression of Chardonnay from one of the region’s most esteemed vineyards. This wine is known for its rich texture, balanced acidity, and layers of complex flavors, including notes of ripe apple, pear, citrus, and subtle oak. The mineral undertones and refined structure make this Meursault a standout in any wine collection, offering a true reflection of the unique terroir of Les Luchets.

Fabien Coche, a renowned winemaker in Burgundy, has crafted this 2022 vintage with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each bottle captures the essence of the vineyard. The result is a wine that is both elegant and powerful, suitable for aging or enjoying now. It pairs beautifully with a range of dishes, from seafood and poultry to creamy cheeses, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.