![Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2020 (Burgundy, France) - [DM 96] [BH 95] [WA 95] [JM 93-95] [VM 92-94]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0481/8940/7391/products/p7vwerok1gpoeoc1ze97_{width}x.jpg?v=1667353280)
Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2020
(Burgundy, France) - [DM 96] [BH 95] [WA 95] [JM 93-95] [VM 92-94]
Regular price $800.00 Sale price $699.97 Save $100.03
Notes from the Winemaker:
The most sublime and the most celebrated estate of Chablis, the wines of Domaine Raveneau are a rare find—exceptional because the vineyard holdings are almost entirely made of grand cru and premier cru fruit, painfully finite as so few are produced, outstanding because of their tremendous quality and consistency, and unusual given the modesty of the vignerons who create these world-class wines.
From vine to glass, the Raveneaus continue to do things the old-fashioned way. Although François passed away in 2000, Bernard’s daughter, Isabelle, joins them today, assuring fans that Domaine Raveneau will continue into the next generation.
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• Harvested by hand
• Grapes pressed gently by pneumatic press
• Only indigenous yeasts are used
• Juice is left to settle, and then racked off its lees into cuve to ferment
• Alcoholic fermentation takes two weeks, followed by a malolactic fermentation in barrel
• Wines are aged for 18 months in older oak barrel and feuillette (most of which comes from barrel-maker Chassin), of which a very small percentage is new
Technical Data:
Vine Age: 50 years average
Soil: Kimmeridgian Limestone
Vineyard Area: 2.51 haRatings & Reviews
96 Points - Decanter:
"One of Raveneau's jewels in the crown, this is a stunning Montée de Tonnerre. This has marked flinty and mineral aromas, whilst the palate is intense and concentrated. You can feel, taste and breathe the terroir here. A precise premier cru with wonderful purity and the structure to age more than a decade." -Andy Howard, MW (10/10/21)
95 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"A more elegant and ultra-cool nose reveals its combination of floral, citrus zest, iodine and that briny sea water character the best examples of Chablis all seem to possess, all of which is trimmed in moderate but not invasive wood. There isn't quite the same volume on the palate as the Butteaux, but the middleweight flavors are notably more refined before terminating in a driving, chiseled and citrusy bone-dry finale. I very much like the focused power of the finish and this classy effort should also amply reward extended cellaring. Drink starting 2032." (September 2022)
95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"The Raveneaus have ten different parcels of Montée de Tonnerre, aged between 20 and 60 years' old and spread over a total of 3ha. Taut and pithy, with stony aromas and flavours that are almost Riesling-like, this is intensely stony, tangy and chiselled with mouth-watering acidity and hints of saffron and lime." - Tim Atkin MW (Jul 2019)
95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Aromas of pear, peach, orange oil, white flowers, freshly baked bread and beeswax introduce the 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that's layered and fragrant, with a fleshy core of fruit, fine tension and a long, saline finish. This is a young Montée de Tonnerre that really resembles a baby Clos this year. 2025-2050." - William Kelley (7/22)
93-95 Points - Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy:
"Pale colour with a light reduction. This has slightly shut the wine down on the palate until you reach the finish where it explodes into a hitherto unseen peacock’s tail of flavour. A second barrel avoids the reduction and is much more open from the start, a little touch of cream on the stones. More opulent, more gracious and still with the wealth of fruit behind. What a contrast with the Vaillons but I love them both." (6/1/21)
92-94 Points - Vinous:
"The 2020 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru has a strict and quite correct bouquet, very minerally, with crushed limestone coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate delivers great tension and salinity, along with hints of white peach and freshly sliced Nashi pear. This gently unfolds toward the finish, which is elegant and very refined vis-à-vis Raveneau’s other cuvées. Drink between 2023-2044." - Neal Martin (Oct 2021)
The most sublime and the most celebrated estate of Chablis, the wines of Domaine Raveneau are a rare find—exceptional because the vineyard holdings are almost entirely made of grand cru and premier cru fruit, painfully finite as so few are produced, outstanding because of their tremendous quality and consistency, and unusual given the modesty of the vignerons who create these world-class wines.
From vine to glass, the Raveneaus continue to do things the old-fashioned way. Although François passed away in 2000, Bernard’s daughter, Isabelle, joins them today, assuring fans that Domaine Raveneau will continue into the next generation.
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
• Harvested by hand
• Grapes pressed gently by pneumatic press
• Only indigenous yeasts are used
• Juice is left to settle, and then racked off its lees into cuve to ferment
• Alcoholic fermentation takes two weeks, followed by a malolactic fermentation in barrel
• Wines are aged for 18 months in older oak barrel and feuillette (most of which comes from barrel-maker Chassin), of which a very small percentage is new
Technical Data:
Vine Age: 50 years average
Soil: Kimmeridgian Limestone
Vineyard Area: 2.51 ha
Ratings & Reviews
96 Points - Decanter:
"One of Raveneau's jewels in the crown, this is a stunning Montée de Tonnerre. This has marked flinty and mineral aromas, whilst the palate is intense and concentrated. You can feel, taste and breathe the terroir here. A precise premier cru with wonderful purity and the structure to age more than a decade." -Andy Howard, MW (10/10/21)
95 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"A more elegant and ultra-cool nose reveals its combination of floral, citrus zest, iodine and that briny sea water character the best examples of Chablis all seem to possess, all of which is trimmed in moderate but not invasive wood. There isn't quite the same volume on the palate as the Butteaux, but the middleweight flavors are notably more refined before terminating in a driving, chiseled and citrusy bone-dry finale. I very much like the focused power of the finish and this classy effort should also amply reward extended cellaring. Drink starting 2032." (September 2022)
95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"The Raveneaus have ten different parcels of Montée de Tonnerre, aged between 20 and 60 years' old and spread over a total of 3ha. Taut and pithy, with stony aromas and flavours that are almost Riesling-like, this is intensely stony, tangy and chiselled with mouth-watering acidity and hints of saffron and lime." - Tim Atkin MW (Jul 2019)
95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Aromas of pear, peach, orange oil, white flowers, freshly baked bread and beeswax introduce the 2020 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine that's layered and fragrant, with a fleshy core of fruit, fine tension and a long, saline finish. This is a young Montée de Tonnerre that really resembles a baby Clos this year. 2025-2050." - William Kelley (7/22)
93-95 Points - Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy:
"Pale colour with a light reduction. This has slightly shut the wine down on the palate until you reach the finish where it explodes into a hitherto unseen peacock’s tail of flavour. A second barrel avoids the reduction and is much more open from the start, a little touch of cream on the stones. More opulent, more gracious and still with the wealth of fruit behind. What a contrast with the Vaillons but I love them both." (6/1/21)
92-94 Points - Vinous:
"The 2020 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru has a strict and quite correct bouquet, very minerally, with crushed limestone coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate delivers great tension and salinity, along with hints of white peach and freshly sliced Nashi pear. This gently unfolds toward the finish, which is elegant and very refined vis-à-vis Raveneau’s other cuvées. Drink between 2023-2044." - Neal Martin (Oct 2021)