Chablis Fôrets

Chablis Fôrets (also Fôret) is one of the top Premier Cru vineyard sites in the Chablis region. The vineyard is located on the left bank of the Serein river between the Premier Crus of Butteaux and Montmains. All three of these vineyards are grouped under the umbrella appellation of Montmains, though the best producers label their wines according to the sub-climat from which they are made.

The soil of Fôrets is poor and relatively shallow with a marly Kimmeridgian subsoil – a factor in the steely minerality of the wines produced here. Although Chablis Fôrets shows good concentration of flavour – in oaked and unoaked styles – its wines tend to be leaner than those of neighbouring crus. This is a consequence of the vineyard’s southeasterly aspect. The zingy, crystalline Chablis Fôrets wines of Francois Raveneau are particularly sought-after. Eminently fine examples are also produced by Dauvissat and Patrick Piuze.