Fourrier (Winemaking, Best Wines, Prices 2024)
Want to discover more about Domaine Fourrier wine before adding one to your collection?
The story of Domaine Fourrier is one of second chances - from a top wine exporter to near dereliction, and rising from the ashes to one of the best winemakers in Burgundy!
Today, Domaine Fourrier is renowned for its fascinating history and winemaking philosophies of minimal winery intervention and limited production.
Let’s explore more about Domaine Fourrier wine, including its history, taste, and the Best Bottles To Buy In 2024. We’ll also discover the Easiest Way To Invest in Domaine Fourrier and other fine wines.
Further reading
- Want to join the exciting world of fine wine investment? Check out This Useful Guide On Investing In Wine.
- Also, discover the World’s Best Champagnes To Buy In 2024 and The Right Glasses To Serve Your Bubbly In.
What is Domaine Fourrier?
Domaine Fourrier is a wine house situated in Gevrey-Chambertin - a commune in the Cote d’Or region of Burgundy, France.
Domaine Fourrier owns 10 hectares of vineyards spread amongst the communes of the historic Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St.-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, and Vougeot.
Interestingly, the estate was amongst the first in France to export their wines to the USA. It now exports 99% of its wines and has become one of the most sought-after red wines among Burgundy lovers.
Despite employing the largest number of harvesters in the region, Domaine Fourrier produces only 3500 cases of wine annually. This explains why getting your hands on a bottle isn’t that easy!
Also read: Why not whip up a tasty Mimosa or a vibrant Sangria before we delve into the viticulture at Domaine Fourrier?
Or, maybe you prefer Champagne cocktails? Then check out the best Kir Royale recipe!
Now, how did Domaine Fourrier become one of the world’s best producers of Burgundy wine?
The History of Domaine Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier was previously called Pernot-Fourrier after its founder Fernand Pernot.
In the 1930s, Fernand Pernot’s sister married into the Fourrier family, with both families contributing excellent vineyards to the family. This included a section of Griotte-Chambertin and another in Clos St-Jacques.
Fernand Pernot didn’t have any children, so when he passed away in 1981, his nephew Jean-Claude Fourrier reluctantly took over the estate.
Jean-Claude wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about winemaking, and was faced with devastating critic reviews. This brought the estate to virtual ruin in the 1980s.
In 1994, Jean-Claude’s 23-year old son, Jean-Marie Fourrier, took over the estate. Jean-Marie had been a student of Henri Jayer in Vosne-Romanée. He also briefly worked as a cellar hand for Domaine Drouhin in Oregon.
On his return to Domaine Fourrier, Jean-Marie completely turned things around. He reduced vine yields, installed new equipment, and renovated the domaine’s derelict cellar.
Today this family domaine is heralded as a top wine producer in the region.
Viticulture at Domaine Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier’s vines date back to 1902 and 1910, with the average vine age being 50-70 years old. All their vineyards have a limestone-clay terroir.
The estate’s portfolio consists of vines in the region’s top vineyards, including:
- One Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru vineyard
- Five Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru sites
- Two Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru parcels
- One Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru vineyard
- One Les Petits Vougeots Premier Cru vineyard
Domaine Fourrier also owns four village-classified vineyard holdings.
Jean-Marie Fourrier has a policy of minimal intervention in the cellar and employs only natural winemaking techniques.
There’s a strict selection process when it comes to harvesting, and only Pinot Noir grapes from old vines (over 30 years) are used.
They also produce a small quantity of negociant wine using grapes purchased from other vineyards and appellations.How is Domaine Fourrier wine made?
Winemaking at Domaine Fourrier
These are the steps followed by the winemakers at Domaine Fourrier:
- Harvesting: Harvesters sort the grapes by hand on a table raised above the floor. This allows the free fall of the sorted grapes into the de-stemmer.
- Fermentation: They are then destemmed to almost 100% to enter the stainless steel fermentation tanks undamaged. This process limits the extraction of color and tannins from the skin, allowing the fermentation to occur within the grape before the skin breaks.
- Malolactic fermentation: Jean-Marie prefers to leave the CO2 that naturally evolves during the malolactic fermentation. This wards off oxygen and maintains the freshness of the wines. This method helps him avoid the use of sulfites during bottling.
- Pressing: Domaine Fourrier uses the hand pigeage (pressing) technique.
- Aging: The wines are aged for approximately 16-20 months in old oak barrels. They limit the use of new oak to just 20%.
The result is naturally clear wines without any racking, fining, or filtering.
Domaine Fourrier Wines
Domaine Fourrier produces 16 different wines:
- Bourgogne Blanc
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Chambolle Musigny
- Morey Saint Denis Clos Solon
- Gevrey Chambertin Aux Echezeaux
- Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes
- Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeots
- Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers
- Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers
- Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbes
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cherbaudes
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Goulots
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Combe Aux Moines
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Champeaux
- Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint Jacques
- Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru
(Don’t worry, we’ll help you pick the best vintages out of these in a bit!)
Further Reading:
Feeling like a glass of red wine? Find out the best Malbec and Chianti wines to buy in 2024. You can also try a bottle of Barbera d’Asti.
Domaine Fourrier Taste and Food Pairings
Domaine Fourrier’s wines are typically quite fruity and light-footed with an abundant range of red and dark berry fruit notes. They are usually of fine intensity and depth, displaying a subtle earthy minerality.
While you could pair Domaine Fourrier’s wines with the traditional boeuf Bourguignon or coq au vin, you can also be more adventurous. The acidity and minerality of the wines lend themselves to spicy cuisine and even citrusy dishes.
It also pairs well with duck, goose, and game birds.
For wines less than five years old, decanting before serving will enhance the taste.
Further reading:
Looking for the best white wine? Read all about aromatic Rieslings and Sauvignon Blanc vintages. Also, check out this guide on Pinot Blanc.
Best Vintages from Domaine Fourrier to Buy in 2024
Here’s a list of our favourites:
1. Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques Cuvée Centenaire, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, France, 2010
This is an elegant, balanced wine with a delicate nose of red berry fruit and hints of dark chocolate. The initial fruitiness on the palate leads to a spicy, long finish.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques Cuvée Centenaire, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, France, 2010: $3,954
2. Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne, Cote de Nuits, France, 2012
The undeniable elegance of this wine is mainly due to its silky texture and pretty purple color. The aroma is earthy with slight mushroom notes and a smoky finish. With each sip, you can taste the black fruit, dark cherry, and raspberry undertones.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne, Cote de Nuits, France, 2012: $1,150
3. Domaine Fourrier Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne, Cote de Nuits, France, 2015
This vintage was made in limited numbers due to a sweltering European summer that year.
The result is a light wine with balanced acidity. The initial notes are leathery and earthy, but they give way to a distinct black cherry finish.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne, Cote de Nuits, France, 2015: $870
4. Domaine Fourrier Les Amoureuses Vieille Vigne, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France, 2017
A light-footed and svelte vintage imbued with incredible minerality, soft tannins, and a nice acidic spine. It envelopes you with rich wood, spices, and cherry notes that have become synonymous with Domaine Fourrier’s signature fruit-forward palate.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Les Amoureuses Vieille Vigne, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France, 2017: $775
5. Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, France, 2015
This exceptional wine is a bright, clear ruby color with an attractive nose of ripe fruit. The predominant notes are cherry, strawberry, and raspberry, with an earthy mineral backbone.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, France, 2015: $750
6. Domaine Fourrier Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits, France, 2015
This superb wine is powerful but smooth and fruity. The bouquet remains transparent despite the concentrated aromas, and the palate is well-rounded. With hints of leather and tobacco leaf, this vintage has a nice long finish with ripe red fruit and minerals shining through.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits, France, 2015: $711
7. Domaine Fourrier Bonnes-Mares Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France,2018
This is a savory, classic wine that’s rich in its dark fruit flavor despite its age. It exhibits a silky finesse that Burgundy wines are renowned for.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Bonnes-Mares Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France, 2018: $717
8. Domaine Fourrier Mazis-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France, 2017
This is a stunning wine with red fruit notes and aromatic complexity. It has an impressive concentration and is a delight to drink in its youth or after some cellaring.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Mazis-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France, 2017: $481
9. Domaine Fourrier Les Sentiers, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France, 2011
Here we have an exceedingly smooth wine that is bursting with red fruit flavors. The subtle tannic presence precedes a long, cherry finish.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Les Sentiers, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru, France, 2011: $464
10. Domaine Fourrier Latricières-Chambertin Vieille Vigne Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France, 2018
This is a particularly triumphant vintage for Domaine Fourrier. A vibrant wine, lively and enjoyable with signature red fruit and mineral notes. The spicy notes of pepper, thyme, and rosemary enhance the silky finish.
Price of Domaine Fourrier Latricières-Chambertin Vieille Vigne Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France, 2018: $467
Should You Invest in Domaine Fourrier Wines?
Domaine Fourrier offers some excellent investment wines, the prices of which have surged after Jean-Marie took over. The 2002 vintage of Griotte-Chambertin has increased in value by 2,000% over the past decade.
Domaine Fourrier’s most recent vintages, 2010 onwards, are great wines, rare, and in high demand too.
Fourrier wines are also sought-after at auctions. A barrel of Domaine Fourrier 2019 Chambolle Musigny ‘Les Sentiers’ recently sold for $189,700+ at a Zachys auction in London.
A bottle of Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St-Jacques 2003 sold for $3,600+ in a Christie’s online auction in 2015.
So, how can you buy a vintage from Domaine Fourrier? After all, they’re quite limited, so you probably won’t find a bottle in your neighborhood wine store.
Luckily, you can get the best Domaine Fourrier and other investment-grade wines easily through Vinovest.
Here’s how:
Buy Domaine Fourrier and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest
Vinovest is a leading wine investment platform providing the easiest way to source, manage and expand your portfolio of investment-grade vintages.
How it Works
It’s easy. All you have to do is:
- Sign up
- Fill out a quick questionnaire so Vinovest can determine your investment style and preferences.
- Fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.
- Start building your wine investment portfolio and watch it grow.
Benefits
Here’s why you should invest with Vinovest:
1. Easily Buy and Sell The Best Wines
Vinovest’s Artificial Intelligence-based online platform lets you easily buy and sell the finest and rarest wines. So, you can buy bottles of Chateau Lafite, Pomerol, or Pouilly Fuisse wines in just a few clicks.
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Buy investment-grade wines at the best prices without middleman and retailer markups.
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You don’t have to be a wine expert to buy a coveted Bordeaux or Burgundy wine! Vinovest has a team of world-class sommeliers and data scientists to help you build a portfolio of investment-grade wines.
Also, Vinovest knows which wines command high prices. So when there’s another record-breaking auction, you will reap the benefits.
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Vinovest goes the extra length to trace your wine’s provenance and ensure its authenticity.
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Vinovest stores your wines in world-class bonded warehouses, strategically located in France, the UK, Switzerland, and other global wine industry hotspots.
Your wines are stored under optimal light, humidity, and temperature conditions, protecting their long-term value.
6. Low Overall Costs, including Tax Advantages
Vinovest charges lower fees than most other wine investment firms - a 2.5% annual fee (1.9% for a portfolio of above $50,000).This includes wine buying, fraud detecting, storage, insurance, and selling as well as management of your portfolio.
The bonded warehouse facilities don’t charge any excise duty or VAT - which allows those tax advantages to be passed on to you.
7. Easy Delivery
Yes, you can drink your wine as well. Alternatively, we can deliver it to your buyer. You just need to tell Vinovest when and where to send it, and they will handle the shipping and insurance.
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Your wines will be monitored by security cameras 24/7. Warehouses are equipped with back-up power in case the primary method of climate control fails.
Vinovest also offers a full insurance policy at market value, protecting each bottle against breakage, theft, and loss.
Ready to Explore The World’s Best Wines?
Domaine Fourrier wines are highly sought-after because of their superior quality, investment-worthiness, and scarcity.
This makes getting a bottle of this rare wine harder than ever before.
Luckily, you can invest in a Domaine Fourrier vintage or any other investment wine through Vinovest. In fact, you can choose premier wines from anywhere in the world. Simply sign up and start building an enviable wine portfolio today!
