![Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2018 (Burgundy, France) - [BH 95] [DM 95] [VM 93-95] [JG 94] [JS 93-94] [WA 92]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/products/raveneau-chablis-1er-cru-montee-de-tonnerre-2018_{width}x.jpg?v=1642535035)
Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2018
(Burgundy, France) - [BH 95] [DM 95] [VM 93-95] [JG 94] [JS 93-94] [WA 92]
Regular price $800.00 Sale price $749.97 Save $50.03
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
95 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"This is perhaps the most elegant and floral-infused wine in the range with its array of various white flower scents, especially acacia that are nuanced by wisps of ocean breeze, iodine and algae. The restrained and well-detailed flavors possess a sophisticated and refined mouthfeel while the stony and chiseled finish exhibiting excellent persistence on the bone-dry finish. This is class in a glass and a stunning rendition of the appellation though note well that at least moderate patience is strongly advised. *Outstanding*' (Nov 2020)
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)
93-95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2018 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is bright and finely cut, with tremendous energy, as the best wines from this site tend to be. Citrus peel, crushed rocks mint and white pepper add striking layers of nuance and tension. The 2018 is going to need at least a handful of years to enter its sweet spot, but it shows tremendous promise and tons of personality." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2020)
94 Points - John Gilman:
"It was interesting that Maxim chose to show the Montée de Tonnerre ahead of the Butteaux this year, which I took not to be a reflection of what he felt of the relative merits of the two wines in 2018, but rather, that as Butteaux has that parcel of really old, high quality vines in it as well, it should have the place of honor and be served last amongst the premier crus. The 2018 Montée de Tonnerre is a stunning wine in the making, soaring from the glass in a complex blend of lemon, pear, beeswax, chalky minerality, a touch of straw and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, beautifully-balanced and shows off great purity, with a rock solid core, snappy acids and laser-like focus and excellent grip on the very, very long and complex finish. 94+"
93-94 Points - James Suckling:
"The nose has a sheen of glossy praline and almost toffee with peach and lemon-brulée notes, as well as lemon curd and mangoes. The palate has a super smooth and attractively round feel with a succulent and super slinky, utterly seductive texture. So delicious it’s crazy!" (Jul 2019)
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is performing well in bottle, mingling notes of crisp green apple and honeycomb with hints of oyster shell, orange oil and pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, its ample core of fruit is girdled by bright acids, before concluding with a saline finish." - William Kelley (Aug 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
95 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"This is perhaps the most elegant and floral-infused wine in the range with its array of various white flower scents, especially acacia that are nuanced by wisps of ocean breeze, iodine and algae. The restrained and well-detailed flavors possess a sophisticated and refined mouthfeel while the stony and chiseled finish exhibiting excellent persistence on the bone-dry finish. This is class in a glass and a stunning rendition of the appellation though note well that at least moderate patience is strongly advised. *Outstanding*' (Nov 2020)
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)
93-95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2018 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru is bright and finely cut, with tremendous energy, as the best wines from this site tend to be. Citrus peel, crushed rocks mint and white pepper add striking layers of nuance and tension. The 2018 is going to need at least a handful of years to enter its sweet spot, but it shows tremendous promise and tons of personality." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2020)
94 Points - John Gilman:
"It was interesting that Maxim chose to show the Montée de Tonnerre ahead of the Butteaux this year, which I took not to be a reflection of what he felt of the relative merits of the two wines in 2018, but rather, that as Butteaux has that parcel of really old, high quality vines in it as well, it should have the place of honor and be served last amongst the premier crus. The 2018 Montée de Tonnerre is a stunning wine in the making, soaring from the glass in a complex blend of lemon, pear, beeswax, chalky minerality, a touch of straw and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, beautifully-balanced and shows off great purity, with a rock solid core, snappy acids and laser-like focus and excellent grip on the very, very long and complex finish. 94+"
93-94 Points - James Suckling:
"The nose has a sheen of glossy praline and almost toffee with peach and lemon-brulée notes, as well as lemon curd and mangoes. The palate has a super smooth and attractively round feel with a succulent and super slinky, utterly seductive texture. So delicious it’s crazy!" (Jul 2019)
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is performing well in bottle, mingling notes of crisp green apple and honeycomb with hints of oyster shell, orange oil and pastry cream. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, its ample core of fruit is girdled by bright acids, before concluding with a saline finish." - William Kelley (Aug 2021)