Product Profile
Domaine Francois Raveneau, Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2006
Light-Medium Bodied, Dry, White, Chardonnay, Drink now or cellar, 13% alc.
Tasting Notes
Tasting note: A gentle touch of wood highlights airy yet slightly riper high-toned and admirably pure aromas of white flower, pear and quinine that gives way to supple, sweet, mouth coating and impressively concentrated flavors that exude a marvelous intensity on the long, powerful and driving finish supported by a solid acid spine. Definitely worth a look if you can find it but unlike most '06s, be prepared to have at least some patience as this is unusually firm for the vintage.
(Outstanding - 93 Points - Drink 2012+ Allen Meadows – Burghound)
Producer
Domaine Francois Raveneau
Domaine Raveneau is Chablis's finest producer. Jean Raveneau has 7 hectares of vines and produces beautifully crafted wines from three Grands Crus (Blanchot, les Clos and Valmur and four Premiers Crus (Montée de Tonnerres, les Vaillons, Butteaux and Chapelot) All the grapes are hand harvested (one of the very few remaining growers in Chablis to do so) and Jean Marie prefers to pick early rather than late, with the aim of preserving the grapes' acidities.
The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wines are then aged in large oak feuilletes (the barrels have an average age of 7-8 years) for 18 months. Very low yields allied to meticulous wine making techniques are what make these wines so highly prized. They are renowned for their pure, racy minerality and rich, honeyed fruit, as well as for their age worthiness - it would be a pity not to let them have the five to ten years in the cellar that they need to reach their sublime best.