Description
One of the most established names in Marsannay, Domaine Jean Fournier is run by dynamic winemaker, Laurent Fournier. Since joining his father Jean in 2001, Laurent has developed a reputation for both crafting quality Marsannay and championing the Aligoté grape. The Fournier’s intricate knowledge of Marsannay has led to Laurent spearheading the current 1er Cru classification procedure.
The family’s relationship with Marsannay stretches back to 1964, when Jean Fournier first saw the potential in ‘Clos du Roy’ and ‘Le Chapitre’, two climats soon to be classified as Marsannay 1er Cru. The domaine’s 22 hectares of vines, the majority of which are in Marsannay, were planted between 1945 to 2010, except for 0.5 hectares in ‘Champ Forey’ planted with ‘Aligoté doré’ in 1921 and 1945. This pre-clonal variety, so named ‘doré’ due to its golden hue, shares the same high acidity as today’s Aligoté clones but boasts far greater complexity.
Initiated by Laurent, the estate converted to organics in the early 2000s. Natural grass cover is used during the summer to strengthen soil diversity and water retention, and the soils are worked by horses to avoid compaction. High density planting, between 13,000 and 20,000 vines per hectare, forces the roots deeper, giving vines greater protection from climate extremes and intensifying the minerality of the finished wines. In the cellar, Domaine Jean Fournier takes a low-intervention approach, working with a maximum of 25% new oak and a minimal amount of sulphur.
Laurent is one of the eight founders of ‘Les Aligoteurs’, a group of now 68 growers, including Grégory Patriat of Jean-Claude Boisset, dedicated to the promotion and safeguarding of Aligoté in Burgundy.
Sourced from a selection of climats, the Aligoté ‘Saint-Urbain’ is a classic expression of Aligoté defined by citrus vibrancy and steely tension. The nose is fresh and floral in character with lifted aromas of white grapefruit and lemon. Expressive notes of red apple and citrus define the palate, balanced by bright acidity and a persistent, saline finish.