Domaine Fourrier
Vieille Vigne Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
2001
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
Mature: past peak but still drinking well through 2032.
In 2026, the Domaine Fourrier Vieille Vigne Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2001 is past its official peak drinking window, which closed in 2024, and in the post-peak mature phase with approximately six years of continued pleasure remaining before hard decline around 2032. This is a wine to drink over the next three to four years rather than continue to hold. The transition from peak to post-peak maturity is particularly gentle for this wine because of the 2001 vintage's excellent natural acidity, a structural quality that has preserved the wine's freshness and definition far beyond what a lower-acid vintage would allow. At twenty-five years old in 2026, the wine is showing the complete range of tertiary complexity that only extended bottle development delivers, the primary anise, sweet cherry, and dark chocolate character noted at release having evolved into a more layered, integrated expression of these same dimensions alongside the earthy, forest floor depth of mature Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru. The wine's defining quality in 2026 is its refined elegance, a consequence of both the Griotte-Chambertin terroir's naturally delicate character and Fourrier's whole-cluster vinification philosophy; this is post-peak maturity expressed as refinement rather than decline.
The ‘01 Vieille Vigne Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru.
The 2001 Fourrier Vieille Vigne Griotte-Chambertin has crossed into post-peak maturity in 2026, now offering delicate anise, sweet cherry, and dark chocolate with a refined elegance and the excellent acidity that has preserved this tiny Grand Cru beautifully through 25 years in bottle.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The 2001 Domaine Fourrier Vieille Vigne Griottes-Chambertin Grand Cru presents in 2026 as a wine of delicate, refined complexity at twenty-five years of age, showing the full evolution of the 2001 vintage's elegance and the distinctive aromatic character that makes Griotte-Chambertin one of the most immediately identifiable Grand Crus in Gevrey-Chambertin. The nose opens with delicate notes of anise, the most distinctive aromatic feature of this tiny Grand Cru whose name references the griotte sour cherry that grows within and around the vineyard, here evolved into a complex interplay of dried herbs and sweet licorice that adds a dimension entirely specific to this appellation. Sweet cherry follows, now expressed as dried cherry and wild berry complexity rather than the fresh fruit of youth, while dark chocolate has deepened into a mocha and bitter cocoa register that adds savory aromatic depth to the wine's maturing profile. A touch of earth and forest loam provides the essential terroir grounding. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied and refined, the 2001 vintage's excellent acidity providing a freshness and definition that is remarkable for a twenty-five-year-old Burgundy, the structural quality that has preserved this wine in good health well past its official peak. The long, clean finish extends with the characteristic precision of Fourrier's whole-cluster approach, ending in a resonance of dried cherry, anise, and mineral complexity.
The 2001 vintage
The 2001 Côte de Nuits vintage produced wines of elegance and precision in a year that followed the celebrated 2000 vintage with a more understated character that rewarded careful producers. A growing season of moderate temperatures and relatively balanced conditions produced wines of naturally high acidity and refined tannin structure, characteristics that have allowed the finest 2001 Burgundies to age gracefully beyond the expectations set at release. For Griotte-Chambertin, one of Gevrey-Chambertin's smallest and most delicately constituted Grand Crus at approximately 2.7 hectares, the 2001's cool precision and naturally high acidity aligned perfectly with the appellation's inherent character of sweet cherry, anise, and aromatic delicacy. The vintage's excellent acidity has been the structural anchor that has preserved the Fourrier 2001 in exceptional condition through twenty-five years of bottle development, a quality that distinguishes this wine from the softer, lower-acid 2003 vintage in the same appellation.
About Domaine Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier is one of Gevrey-Chambertin's most philosophically distinctive estates, led by Jean-Marie Fourrier, who studied under Henri Jayer and has developed a winemaking approach centered on 100% whole-cluster fermentation and long maceration periods at low temperatures to extract aromatic complexity and fine-grained tannins without excessive structure. The Griotte-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes bottling is among the most celebrated expressions of this tiny Grand Cru, combining the appellation's characteristic anise, sweet cherry, and delicate aromatic character with Fourrier's whole-cluster philosophy to produce a wine of extraordinary aromatic refinement and longevity. The Vieilles Vignes designation marks the oldest vine material within the Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin holding, whose very old roots produce lower yields and greater aromatic concentration than younger-vine plots in the same Grand Cru.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted squab or pigeon with sweet cherry gastrique and wilted spinach
The wine's delicate anise and sweet cherry aromatics pair beautifully with the gamey sweetness of squab; the cherry gastrique mirrors the wine's primary fruit dimension and the wilted greens echo the earthy terroir notes.
Pan-seared veal liver with caramelized onions, sage, and reduced balsamic
The refined medium body and dark chocolate dimension of the mature 2001 Griotte find a natural match in the rich, savory depth of veal liver; sage echoes the herbal anise character and balsamic bridges the wine's acidic freshness.
Aged Comté or Beaufort mountain cheese with dried cherry and walnuts
At post-peak maturity, the wine's refined complexity finds a contemplative pairing in aged mountain cheese; dried cherry amplifies the wine's own cherry dimension and walnuts echo the dark chocolate savory depth.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-63F (16-17C)
- Decanting
- Decant 30 to 45 minutes maximum. At twenty-five years of age and in post-peak maturity, the 2001 Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin is fully mature and fragile; gentle, brief aeration opens the anise, cherry, and dark chocolate complexity without risking oxidation of the delicate secondary aromatics. Serve immediately after a brief decant rather than leaving in the decanter.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
Frequently Asked
Is the Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin 2001 past its peak?
Yes. In 2026 this wine has crossed its official peak drinking window, which closed in 2024, and is in the post-peak mature phase. It still offers approximately six years of continued mature pleasure through hard decline around 2032, but the optimal window for experiencing it at its absolute best has passed. Open now and drink over the next three to four years; the 2001's excellent natural acidity has preserved the wine remarkably well. See the [Burgundy region guide](/wines/region/burgundy) for context on the 2001 vintage.
What makes Griotte-Chambertin a unique Grand Cru?
Griotte-Chambertin is one of the smallest Grand Crus in all of Burgundy at approximately 2.7 hectares, and is distinguished from other Gevrey Grand Crus by its characteristic sweet cherry and anise aromatic signature, a dimension that no other Gevrey Grand Cru produces at the same intensity. The name 'Griotte' itself references the griotte sour cherry, and the appellation's wines consistently show a delicate, aromatic quality that is more closely related to Chambolle-Musigny than to the structural power of Chambertin or Clos de la Roche. See the [Pinot Noir varietal guide](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir).
How does Fourrier's whole-cluster approach affect the wine?
Fourrier's 100% whole-cluster fermentation, developed under the influence of Henri Jayer's philosophy, adds a distinctive savory spice complexity and aromatic depth to the wines that purely destemmed approaches do not achieve. In the Griotte-Chambertin specifically, the whole-cluster component amplifies the anise and herbal dimension of the appellation's natural aromatic character, adds fine-grained stem tannins that give the wine its characteristic refined structure, and contributes to the exceptional longevity that has allowed the 2001 to age gracefully past its official peak.
Should I decant this wine?
Yes, but briefly: 30 to 45 minutes maximum. At twenty-five years of age and in post-peak maturity, the wine is fully mature and fragile; gentle aeration opens the complex anise, cherry, and dark chocolate character without risking oxidation. Serve immediately after a brief decant rather than leaving in the decanter, and open only what you plan to finish within the evening.
How long can I still keep this wine?
Until approximately 2032, when hard decline is expected. In 2026 there are approximately six years of continued mature pleasure remaining. The wine is not improving; it should be opened and enjoyed over the next three to four years to capture it at the best remaining stage of its post-peak maturity.