Domaine FOURRIER (Gevrey-Chambertin) -- 2015 Tasted from Tank and Barrel

(Originally published 15 March 2017.)

Jean-Marie Fourrier said that harvesting began on 1 September and lasted six days. As usual, all wines were fermented without whole clusters. Malolactic fermentations began and finished early: by mid-February, most had finished. He expected to bottle the wines in February 2017. 

As for the vintage, he compared it to a cross between 2009 and 2010 in style. 

The wines for the rich collectors have become the Clos Saint-Jacques and the Griotte-Chambertin, but look at the whole lineup and you’ll see that one can do quite well with the premiers crus and even the village wines, and for much better value.

2015 Morey-Saint-Denis     1er Cru     Clos Sorbés
We start a little out of order with this premier cru. The wine has minerality, red currant fruit, elegance and finesse, length, and drive. There’s a slight bitterness on the finish makes. (90-93)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin     Aux Echézeaux
The Gevrey, Aux Echézeaux begins with dark fruit and rust in the nose. The mouth is very intense with mineral red currant and strawberry fruit, a touch of bitterness, lightness, finesse, and energy. It is most attractive, especially for a village wine. (91-94)

2015 Chambolle-Musigny
Fourrier’s village Chambolle has blackberry aromas. The mouth is smooth with dark fruit, a touch of sappiness, lightness on the palate, good length, and once again, a touch of bitterness on the finish. (91-94)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin
Fourrier’s straight Gevrey has dark fruits, especially blackberries, and minerality in the nose. The mouth is round and smooth with black fruits. The texture is almost creamy and there is good energy here along with finesse. (91-94)

2015 Vougeot     1er Cru      Petits Vougeot
The Petits Vougeot shows black raspberry aromas and flavors reminiscent of Clos Vougeot. The wine is very energetic and light on the palate with perfect balance. (91-95)

2015 Chambolle-Musigny     1er Cru    Les Gruenchers
The Chambolle-Gruenchers has dark berry fruit and although being round also has more structure than the Petits Vougeot. This wine has fine acidity, calm, and is lip-smackingly good. Medium-full body. (91-95)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin     1er Cru     Les Cherbaudes
Fourrier’s Cherbaudes is dense with concentrated dark berry fruit that is very fresh. The wine is deep yet light on the palate with very good energy. Despite an almost sappy quality to the fruit, the wine retains its excellent freshness. (93-96)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin    1er Cru    Les Goulots
Goulots is a cold terroir, one that has benefitted excellently from the warmth of 2015. This wine has fresh blackberry fruit with a little strawberry. It’s light on the palate and quite long. Outstanding. (93-96)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin     1er Cru     Les Champeaux
The Champeaux has dark fruits, especially blackberries, roundness, a medium-weight body, round tannins and good length. (92-96)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin     1er Cru    Combe aux Moînes
From a site in an old quarry which gives greater heat, the Combe aux Moînes, as one would expect, is riper and fuller in the mouth with dark fruit, minerality, and roundness. (93-96)

2015 Gevrey-Chambertin     1er Cru    Clos Saint-Jacques
The Clos Saint-Jacques shows typical gaminess to its red fruit aromas and flavors. There’s excellent purity here, good concentration, length, and minerality. In short, a classic and truly outstanding Clos Saint-Jacques. (94-97)

2015 Griotte-Chambertin
Finally, the Griotte-Chambertin displays its greatness with purity to the griotte cherry fruit, minerality, nervosity, density, and excellent balance. Griotte-Chambertin can’t get much better than this. (94-98)