2023 J. Moreau et Fils Fourchaume Chablis Premier Cru 750 ml

Great Chablis is a key part of the world’s finest wine lists for a reason: It’s profound, hauntingly complex, and electric—Chardonnay stripped down to its bare essence of rock and vibrant fruit. That makes it a Swiss Army knife for wine directors and sommeliers, who can pull it out to pair with just about anything. 

We originally sourced J. Moreau’s Fourchaume Premier Cru for our wine club partnership with San Francisco’s two-Michelin-star Saison—a restaurant that focuses on pure expressions of impeccable raw materials. The wine’s lemon zest, saline minerality, and hints of nuttiness are as pure as Chardonnay gets. It’s got enough richness to pair with hearth-roasted fowl but enough brightness and perfectly complement a delicate salad of Dungeness crab.

Fourchaume is one of Chablis’ most famous Premier Crus. Functionally an extension of the bench of Grand Cru sites that line the right bank of the Serein River, it’s one of the most coveted sites in the entire region. In J. Moreau, the vineyard has one of its most accomplished winemakers. With over 200 years of history in the region, the Moreau family’s success in Chablis is written in their longevity and in the proliferation of quality wines bearing their name. 

Moreau’s expertise paid big dividends in the beautifully warm 2023 vintage. Flowering in early June occurred under ideal conditions, and a very large crop was set on the vines, setting the stage for abundance despite the obstacles ahead. The late-season heat wave that swept through the region in September proved to be the vintage's saving grace, allowing grapes to reach optimal maturity. The result was wine with generous fruit character and the crystalline minerality that defines great Chablis. 

Decanter awarded the vintage four stars, noting: “The best results are in line with recent sunny vintages (such as 2018–2020 and 2022), with ripe orchard and stone fruit, a lush texture, balanced acidity and plenty of extract.” In this season, Premier Cru bottles like this one have Grand Cru energy.