Ready for some mouthwatering reading?
The long-underappreciated Burgundy appellation of Marsannay is, at last, on the verge of world recognition. Several vineyards are on the precipice of premier cru designation, and as such, the gears of supply and demand will inevitably begin their age-old churn towards scarcity and inflation.
But for a moment, we privileged few can use the knowledge that domains like Jean Fournier represent tremendous value. Since taking the helm from his father in 2000, Laurent Fournier, has methodically converted the family holdings, first to organic, then to biodynamic farming. For his part, even at 75, Jean still walks the vineyards each morning and contributes indispensable wisdom to the operation. It’s the only life he knows since he was thrust into stewardship of the family domain after his father’s untimely passing when Jean was 17 years old.
Totaling a mere 22.5 hectares, the Fournier footprint is in fact quite significant within the realm of Burgundy landholders, where each unique holding is quite small: a patchwork of appellations from Corton to Fixin, and of course, Marsannay. Their sparse acreage in these pastoral hills just south of Dijon includes terroirs sure to receive premier cru distinction in coming vintages. From the delicate expressions of hallowed sites like Es Chezots to the power and intensity of Clos du Roy and Les Longeroies, Laurent Fournier’s steady hand guiding wine from vine to bottle pays homage to the land itself and delivers relative bargains in Burgundy…for now.