2023 Aloxe-Corton Village

I visited winemaker Laurent Fournier on my final day. As I have written for many years, he has made this a go-to address in Marsannay. Moreover, in an age of escalating prices, his wines remain extremely reasonable. Higher prices do not equate to better wine. A bit like the vines in 2023, Fournier always has a surplus of energy, chatting away and forgetting the odd thing, like the samples left cooling outside on the doorstep… we just had to rejig the order so they could warm up! He told me that he had to change his harvest plans since the potential alcohol in his Chardonnay was increasing rapidly. So, he began on September 4, stopping between September 8 and 10, restarting with the Pinot Noir from September 11 to 19. He continues to use larger vessels, including a number of demi-muids for 12 months with a further 6 months in stainless steel. His Chardonnay underwent a quick malo; however, he had trouble finishing the sugars, which is why these were not assessed. This is a superb range of thoughtfully crafted reds and whites, including some splendid Aligoté cuvées. If you are enjoying Fournier’s wines, then good for you. If not… do yourself a favor.