Vinous: 92 Points
"The 2019 Chablis Les Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru, a selection that is raised in two demi-muids, has a glorious, vigorous bouquet of black currant leaf, white peach, Japanese yuzu and crushed rock. The taut, fresh palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and a saline finish. It needs a bit more persistence, but otherwise this has a lot of potential. Give it 2–3 years in the cellar. (NM)"
Wine Advocate: 92 Points
"The 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, orange oil, pastry cream, vanilla pod and light reduction. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's girdled by bright acids and framed by chalky structuring extract. The dynamic Grégory Viennois, who presides over Laroche's fully 90 hectares as technical director, continues to take this large house onwards and upwards; and with every vintage, the wines seem to take on more depth and dimension. As I wrote last year, Viennois is a Chapoutier and Derenoncourt alumnus, and he is working toward more sustainable farming and moderated yields in the vineyards, eliminating the use of pesticides, herbicides and anti-botrytis treatments, as well as pressing the grapes long and hard in the winery in pursuit of structuring dry extract. Recently used oak is more subtly employed, and Laroche's early-2000s transition to screw-cap closures has been abandoned. Several cuvées now see a longer élevage, and a couple of new small bottlings from within Laroche's large holdings have joined the range. 2018, revisited here in bottle, has turned out well, constituting a fine success in this abundant vintage, and 2019 is more promising still. (WK)"
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