Domaine Francois Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru Chablis 2018

Domaine Raveneau is undoubtedly one of the most renowned estates in the Chablis region. Since its inception in 1948, the estate has been producing limited quantities of wines from the top vineyards in the village. François Raveneau, the founder of the estate, was a master of his craft, and his distinctive style and unwavering commitment to quality helped build the estate's reputation. Today, his son Jean-Marie Raveneau and his brother Bernard Raveneau continue to carry on the legacy of their father. The estate's holdings include three Grand Cru vineyards Blanchot, Les Clos, and Valmur along with a selection of Premier Crus, including Montée de Tonnerre, Les Vaillons, Butteaux, Chapelot, Mont-Mains and Forêt. Jean-Marie oversees the vineyards while Bernard manages the cellar, and their children, Maxime and Isabelle, are set to continue this division of labour. With its exceptional vineyards and a team dedicated to producing the highest quality wines, Domaine Raveneau remains a benchmark for Chablis wines.

For Domaine Raveneau, the key to producing exceptional wines lies in the meticulous care given to their vineyards. The Raveneaus take a traditional approach to winemaking, doing everything by hand and keeping yields very low. The vines are pruned using the double Guyot method, and the fruit is often de-leafed on the shade side before harvest. Once the grapes are harvested, they are immediately pressed and settled for half a day. The fermentation process is carried out using indigenous yeast in stainless steel vats. After the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are complete, the wines are racked off their lees and aged in used feuillettes, the traditional 132-liter barrels of Chablis, for 12-15 months. These barrels, which are seven to eight years old on average, gently open up the wine during the élevage without imparting new oak aromas or flavours. After the aging process, the wines are transferred back to stainless steel vats for 3-6 months before being bottled. The domaine often waits an additional 6 months after bottling before releasing the wines. Through this meticulous process, the Raveneau family produces wines that are a true reflection of the unique terroir of Chablis.

The vineyard of Montée de Tonnerre is undoubtedly one of the most important vineyards in Chablis. Located on the same south-facing slope as the Grand Crus, its unique terroir produces wines of exceptional quality. The Montée de Tonnerre wine is made from a blend of grapes from 1.8 hectares of vines in the Chapelot lieu-dit and 1.2 hectares of vines in the cooler, racier Pied d'Aloup lieu-dit. In exceptional vintages, a separate bottling of Chapelot is produced in addition to the regular cuvée of Montée de Tonnerre. This allows the unique characteristics of Chapelot's terroir to shine through in the wine. With its distinctive blend of grapes from two different lieu-dits, Montée de Tonnerre is a true reflection of the diversity and complexity of Chablis wines.

The Domaine Francois Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru Chablis 2018 is a wine of exceptional quality, with a pronounced nose and a complex array of aromas. The wine opens with ripe apple, pear and Meyer lemon notes, followed by hints of apple blossom, fresh bread, yoghurt, light clove, butter and melon. On the palate, the wine has high acidity and medium alcohol, with a medium to high body. The finish is long and intense, leaving a lasting impression. The wine is already complex, but has many years ahead of it to continue to evolve and develop. Despite its power, the wine remains lean and balanced, with no overpowering notes. Overall, the Domaine Francois Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru Chablis 2018 is an outstanding wine that showcases the unique terroir of Chablis.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Chablis
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%