Tasted in La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne with Olivier Alexandre, 12 March 2024.
Domaine Guy et Olivier Alexandre
36 Rue du Serein
89800 La Chapelle-Vaupelteigne
Tel: +33 6 80 26 46 89
www.chablis-alexandre.com
More reports from the domaine
Olivier on 2023:
“We had quite a lot of rain – quite regular rain! It was really only dry for the harvest – we had a bunch of interventions as we worried about oïdum and mildew – but we started harvesting 14 September and had a good volume – but it was hot work, in fact, we started late because it had been even hotter – we finished harvesting about lunchtime each day because of that heat.”
“Olivier on 2022:
We started harvesting 6th September – a much sunnier vintage than 2023 – but with hardly any maladies – so fewer treatments were required. All the last of the bottlings were done in October, including the little VCI that we had following the 21s. We just made the volumes and a little more.”
Since I last visited (before COVID) they now have a négoce side to the domaine – Maison Alexandre – buying in must from people who harvest a bit later so they can do their own vinification.
The wines…
Good entry wines but a great Fourchaume in 2022 !!
2022 Maison Petit Chablis
Will start to bottle some 2023 soon as this is nearly gone now.
A pretty nose, a little floral accent. Mouth-filling, cool, faintly grained texture – that’s a delicious wine.
2022 Maison Chablis
A smaller nose but with a fine width of aroma, faintly but attractively green herbed. Large scale, cool flavour – slightly creamy flavour too. That’s broad and delicious – really delicious!
2022 Domaine Chablis Vieilles-Vignes
Over 70-year-old vines – planted by Olivier’s grandfather – about half a hectare
Larger scale aromas – freshness here – really impressive and inviting. Large scale in the mouth too – a slightly savoury but also quite juicy flavour profile. This is a larger and more energetic wine – today not quite as delicious as the previous Chablis – but give it 2 years in the cellar – the finish has clarity and lovely persistence.
Part in the historic core of the vineyard.
A breadth of fresh aroma – the typical more golden citrus of this cru but in this case supported by a slightly reductive minerality. This is super in the mouth – this really majors on the mineral side of the wine – more of an Homme Mort style – but it’s nearer Vaupulent. I think it a really top Fourchaume – bravo!