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2021 Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Les Forets #230778183
93
John Gilman
Reviews 91-93 points Vinous "The 2021 Chablis Foret 1er Cru is where things start getting serious for Raveneau with a chiselled, orange blossom and flinty bouquet that unfurls nicely in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a fine thread of acidity, subtle apricot and quince notes surfacing with time, quite elegant, almost dainty in style with a persistent finish. Very fine. (NM)" 90-92 points Burghound "Here too there are light touches of wood and menthol setting off more citrus-inflected aromas of oyster shell, essence of pear and quinine. The sleek and solidly intense flavors possess fine mid-palate density while exuding evident minerality on the clean and moderately dry but not really austere finale. This should be approachable at around 5 years of age and improve for up to a decade. (AM)"
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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.