2024 Domaine Roy Fourchaume Chablis 1er Cru, Burgundy

Domaine Roy's Chablis captures the distinctive freshness and mineral character that makes northern Burgundy's Chardonnay so appealing. Fourchaume is one of the region's most celebrated Premier Cru vineyards, prized for its combination of generous fruit, elegance and fine structure. Situated close to the Grand Cru hillside, it produces wines with a little more richness and breadth than many of Chablis' cooler sites.

Fourchaume stretches along the right bank of the Serein River, where favourable exposures and Kimmeridgian limestone soils help Chardonnay achieve excellent ripeness while retaining its characteristic acidity. The 2024 vintage was cool and challenging, producing modest yields but some beautifully energetic wines with crisp citrus fruit and pronounced mineral freshness.

Pale straw yellow with bright green reflections. Fresh lemon, ripe pear and white peach mingle with citrus blossom, green almond and a hint of crushed seashell. The palate is supple and finely textured, with juicy orchard fruit, lively acidity and a gentle creaminess through the middle. Notes of lemon peel, chalk and subtle sea spray linger through a long, refreshing finish.

Try it with Vietnamese steamed fish with ginger and dill, crab linguine with fresh parsley, or a golden leek and potato galette. Its balance of richness and freshness also makes it a lovely match for grilled calamari with fennel and lemon.

Cellaring: Drink 2026 to 2035. Enjoy its youthful citrus freshness or allow several years for more savoury, nutty complexity.

Chardonnay from 46-year-old vines on south-east-facing slopes. Fermented and aged for one year in temperature-controlled stainless steel.

Pale straw with gold and green highlights. Nice expressive nose of dried white and yellow flowers, chalk (Kimmeridgian of course!), flinty reduction, and ripe yellow citrus and white stonefruit. Very enticing and full of energy. The medium weight the palate is open and expressive blending ripe grapefruit and stonefruit with a soft easy-going texture before bracing citric acidity cuts a deep swathe. A very youthful example that will love something rich a buttery/creamy to accompany. Very good.

Tim Stock, Oct 2026