A fresh, precise and subtly textured Premier Cru Chablis from the right bank of the Serein.
The 2022 Les Fourneaux combines citrus and white flowers with almond, subtle vanilla and brioche. The palate is fresh and direct, with good mid-palate weight and a clean citrus-zest finish.
Fermentation and aging in a combination of stainless steel and barrel give the wine additional texture without overwhelming the mineral and citrus character of the Chardonnay.
Region: Chablis, Burgundy, France
Appellation: Chablis Premier Cru
Premier Cru: Les Fourneaux
Vintage: 2022
Producer: La Chablisienne
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Location: Fleys, Right Bank of the Serein
Exposure: South-East & South-West
Soils: Kimmeridgian Clay-Limestone
Vine Age: Approximately 25 Years
Vinification: Stainless Steel & Oak Barrels
Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
Aging: Approximately 12 Months on Fine Lees in Tanks & Barrels
Style: Dry White Wine
Les Fourneaux lies on the right bank of the Serein around the village of Fleys, east of the town of Chablis.
The vineyards have south-east and south-west exposures and are planted on the Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils that define much of the Chablis appellation.
The name Fourneaux—literally referring to ovens or furnaces—is associated with the relatively warm exposure of the site. This allows Chardonnay to achieve good maturity while retaining the acidity and mineral character expected of Premier Cru Chablis.
Nose:
Initially restrained, with fresh citrus and white flowers, particularly acacia. With air, the wine develops notes of fresh almond, subtle vanilla, butter, and brioche.
Palate:
Fresh and direct on entry, becoming broader through the mid-palate. Ripe citrus fruit is balanced by lively acidity and a subtle creaminess from lees aging.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, with good concentration and a combination of freshness and moderate richness. The barrel component adds texture rather than pronounced oak flavor.
Finish:
Clean and persistent, with citrus zest, almond and a fresh mineral character.
La Chablisienne’s Les Fourneaux 2022 offers a useful balance between the purity of stainless-steel Chablis and the broader texture that can come from partial barrel fermentation and aging.
The vineyard’s relatively warm exposures give the wine good fruit maturity, while its Kimmeridgian soils and acidity maintain freshness.
The 2022 shows citrus, white flowers and acacia initially, followed by more developed notes of almond, vanilla, butter and brioche as the wine opens.
The result is a Premier Cru with enough concentration for richer seafood preparations, while remaining recognizably Chablis in its freshness and citrus-driven finish.
The 2022 vintage was warm and dry in Chablis, producing Chardonnay with good maturity and concentration.
In Les Fourneaux, that generosity shows up as a relatively juicy, rounded mid-palate, balanced by lively acidity and citrus-zest freshness.
The combination of ripe fruit, lees aging, and restrained barrel influence makes the wine approachable now, while providing sufficient structure for further development.
Drink: Now–2033
Preferred Window: 2026–2031
The 2022 is drinking well now, particularly for those who prefer Chablis with youthful citrus fruit, freshness and a subtle lees-derived richness.
You don't need to cellar the wine before opening.
Another two to four years should allow the almond, brioche and mineral elements to integrate further, while the primary citrus fruit gradually develops toward preserved lemon, hazelnut, beeswax and more savory mineral notes.
Well-stored bottles should continue to develop into the early 2030s.
Allow approximately 20–30 minutes in the glass or open bottle before serving.
Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
The combination of freshness, moderate richness, and subtle barrel influence makes Les Fourneaux particularly suitable for seafood.
Recommended Pairings:
Scallops · Langoustines · Lobster · Crab · Sea Bream Tartare · Salmon Tataki · Turbot · Dover Sole · Sea Bass · Grilled Prawns · Roast Chicken · Veal · Comté
Pair with seared scallops, langoustines, or Dover sole with a light butter sauce.
La Chablisienne also suggests sea bream tartare and salmon tataki, both of which pair well with the wine’s citrus freshness and moderate richness.
Within the three 2022 La Chablisienne Premier Crus we have just covered, I would distinguish them stylistically as follows:
Neutre Vaillons — the most direct and mineral, with the least emphasis on élevage.
Les Fourneaux — fresh and precise, but with additional almond, brioche, and subtle barrel-derived texture.
Grande Cuvée — broader and more generous, with greater emphasis on ripe fruit and lees-derived richness.
Les Fourneaux therefore sits comfortably between the more linear style of Neutre and the broader character of Grande Cuvée.
