Chablis 1er Cru - Fourchaume - Le Domaine d'Henri - Michel Laroche - Chablis - France

Vintage 2019

Ancestors of the Laroche family owned vines in Chablis as long ago as 1695. Today, with Michel Laroche as patriarch, they are among the most respected winemaking dynasties in all of France. Michel has steered a wise yet bold path since his first vintage in 1967. In 2010, he sold the family’s stake in Domaine Laroche in order to establish a new, smaller, quality-oriented domaine, which he would name after his father, Henri. The winery at Domaine d’Henri may have been constructed from scratch, but a significant proportion of the domaine’s holdings is venerable. Of particular note are the 80-year-old vines in the Premier Cru Fourchaume vineyard, which produce the fruit for their Héritage cuvée.

The domaine is currently converting to organic viticulture, while the objective in the winery is to allow each different terroir to express itself. Each parcel is therefore vinified separately, using only natural yeast. Between 10 and 35% of any given wine is aged in barrel depending on the vintage and cuvée – just the right amount to highlight, rather than mask, the startling purity of the domaine’s wines.

Michel’s daughter Margaux, who shares her father’s dynamism, is increasingly responsible for the commercial side of the business.

Mid lemon colour. The nose has a certain amount of weight, a little less freshness. Tight and lean with some citrus behind. This builds greater power on the palate, but finishes with just a little heaviness. The greater percentage of clay in Fourchaume gives the wine a little more weight/density,smoky/flint aromatics.