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2012 Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montmains #130156118
750ml
Reviews 91-93 points Wine Advocate "The 2012 Chablis 1er Cru Mont-Mains has a sublime bouquet with hints of praline, almond and minerals all beautifully defined and unfolding in front of your eager senses. The palate is much more reserved than the aromatics suggest, but it is built around a killer line of acidity that lends tautness and electricity on the finish. This is a serious Chablis for sure ? one that deserves several years in cellar. (NM)" 92 points John Gilman "The 2012 Montmains is also outstanding, offering up a complex and vibrant bouquet of tangerine, lemon, apple, chalky minerality, white flowers and incipient notes of beeswax in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with an excellent core of fruit, bright acids and outstanding focus and balance on the very long and zesty finish. While this wine will be very tasty out of the blocks, I would be inclined to try and keep my hands off of this lovely wine for at least a few years and let its secondary layers of complexity emerge with further bottle age. (JG)"
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About Francois Raveneau
Domaine François Raveneau sits at the pinnacle of Chablis production, producing a mere 3,000 cases per year yet presenting a distinguished portfolio of terroirs. This includes five premier cru and three grand cru vineyards that yield wines of exceptional quality and age-ability. These collectible wines are emblematic of Chablis' distinctive Kimmeridgian limestone soils, brought to life by François Raveneau’s sons, Bernard and Jean-Marie, along with Bernard's daughter, Isabelle.
The Raveneau family approaches winemaking with a blend of tradition and meticulous craftsmanship. Unlike many of their contemporaries, they maintain a labor-intensive, manual harvest. Their vinification process features gentle pressing and fermentation in tanks, allowing the lees to settle before isolating the finest for barrel aging in neutral oak and feuillettes for 18 months. The result is an array of Chardonnays celebrated for their aromatic intensity and mineral expression.
Spanning nearly eight hectares, the Raveneau's vineyard holdings are predominantly composed of grand cru and premier cru designations. This includes the distinguished grand cru parcels of Blanchot, Les Clos, and Valmur and the notable premier crus such as Montée de Tonnerre, Les Vaillons, and Butteaux. These vineyards, bathed in southwest-facing sun, thrive in the clay-rich and chalky limestone soils of the Kimmeridgian chain.
The family's continued commitment to traditional viticulture—natural vineyard management, severe winter pruning, and hand-harvesting—along with François Raveneau’s pioneering use of Côte d’Or winemaking methods, like barrel fermentation and extended lees contact, contribute to the wines' longevity and distinctiveness. From their premier crus that rival the grand crus to their impressive grand crus, Domaine François Raveneau masterfully captures the profound essence of Chablis, creating wines that unveil layer upon layer of complexity as they mature.