2023 Alain et Cyril Gautheron Chablis 1er Cru Les Fourneaux, Burgundy

I can see some of the Fourneaux vineyard out of the window from the Gautheron tasting room, including the vines which make up this cuvée. There is a fair amount of clay in the soil so the wines are accessible young. Pale lemon and lime. The fruit shows first up on the nose yet with underlying minerality. Discreet as ever, yet balanced with some salinity, perhaps more a spicy iodine. Good length. Understated yet fine, you need to go after it. Drink from 2027-2032. Tasted Jun 2024.

90-93 points Jasper Morris MW Inside Burgundy

The Gautheron family has been cultivating vines in Chablis for generations, building a reputation for wines that express the purity and minerality of this unique corner of Burgundy. Alain and Cyril Gautheron continue that tradition today, combining meticulous vineyard work with restrained winemaking to allow each Premier Cru site to tell its own story. Their wines are known for precision, authenticity and an unwavering sense of place.

Les Fourneaux is one of Chablis' most highly regarded Premier Cru vineyards, positioned on the right bank of the Serein River adjacent to the famous Grand Cru slopes. Its name, meaning "the furnaces", reflects the vineyard's warm, sun exposed position, which encourages excellent ripening while the region's cool climate preserves freshness and tension. The ancient Kimmeridgian limestone soils, packed with fossilised marine remnants, impart the distinctive mineral character that makes Chablis unique.

Pale gold with flashes of green, the wine offers an expressive bouquet of lemon zest, grapefruit and white peach, layered with oyster shell, wet stone and subtle white floral notes. The palate combines concentration with remarkable energy, revealing flavours of citrus, green apple and ripe nectarine wrapped around a core of chalky minerality. There is an appealing saline edge that adds complexity and freshness, while vibrant acidity drives the wine towards a long, focused finish marked by notes of crushed limestone and citrus peel.

Superb alongside freshly shucked oysters, grilled Moreton Bay bugs, seared scallops, sashimi grade kingfish or a delicate leek and goat's cheese tart. While already highly enjoyable, the wine has the structure and balance to develop additional complexity over the next eight to ten years. Les Fourneaux consistently produces some of Chablis' most complete Premier Cru wines, combining generosity, precision and unmistakable Burgundian character.