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2014 Francois Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot #230486184
Reviews 97 points Wine Advocate "The 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is a contender for Domaine Raveneau's finest release in this great year for Chablis. It has an extremely well defined, marine-influenced bouquet that delivers captivating intensity. This is a Chablis that looks you straight between the eyes. The palate displays exquisite balance with razor-sharp acidity. It feels so lively and vivacious, with a wonderful sense of harmony and poise towards the finish... (NM)" 95 points Burghound "Here the super elegant and highly expressive nose is also strikingly floral with plenty of spice, oyster shell, iodine and ocean breeze nuances. There is excellent volume and intensity to the powerful and extract-rich flavors that possess a highly seductive mouth feel before culminating in a hugely long and impeccably well-balanced if mildly austere finish where a hint of bitter lemon surfaces. (AM)" 95 points John Gilman "The 2014 Blanchot is also absolutely stellar in this vintage and an utterly classic expression of this great grand cru terroir. The bouquet delivers a fine and complex constellation of pear, apple, hints of the candied lemon peel to come, a beautiful base of chalky soil tones, a touch of anise and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bdoied, crisp and racy, with great elegance on the attack, a superb core of fruit, marvelous mineral drive and stunning length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. A great wine. (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.