![Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis Premier Cru "Montee de Tonnerre" 2020 (Burgundy, France) - [DM 96] [BH 95] [WA 95] [JM 94] [VM 92-94]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/products/p7vwerok1gpoeoc1ze97_{width}x.jpg?v=1667353280)
Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis Premier Cru "Montee de Tonnerre" 2020
(Burgundy, France) - [DM 96] [BH 95] [WA 95] [JM 94] [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 ha
96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"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 (Oct 2021)
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." (Oct 2022)
95 Points - 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 (Jul 2022)
94 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Pale colour, with delicious fruit in a slightly riper style, more of the peach here but not unbalanced. A few more mineral notes start to emerge. Very intense, with a feel of tannins behind it is so intense. Drink from 2026-2034." (Jun 2022)
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 Magazine:
"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 (Oct 2021)
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." (Oct 2022)
95 Points - 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 (Jul 2022)
94 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Pale colour, with delicious fruit in a slightly riper style, more of the peach here but not unbalanced. A few more mineral notes start to emerge. Very intense, with a feel of tannins behind it is so intense. Drink from 2026-2034." (Jun 2022)
92-94 Points - Vinous Media:
"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 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)