Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis Premier Cru "Montee de Tonnerre" 2023
(Burgundy, France) - [DM 95] [WA 94-95] [BH 93] [VM 92-94] [JM 91-94]

About the Winery:
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.

The domaine was created in 1948, when François Raveneau consolidated his holdings with his wife’s family’s vineyard parcels. Today, François’ sons, Bernard and Jean-Marie, direct the domaine, yet stay true to their father’s philosophy in both the vineyards and the cellar. 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 - Decanter Magazine:
"Apricot and quince aromas with an exotic edge, suggestions of coconut milk and spice, the whole suffused with an intense, chalky minerality. The texture is concentrated and powerful, but the wine never overwhelms and there is a silky elegance that makes it seem gentle instead of substantial. The grapes are from a blend over 3ha of low-yielding old vines in the lieux-dits of Chapelot and Pied d'Aloup." - Charles Curtis MW (Sep 2024)

94-95 Points - Wine Advocate: 
"One of the calling cards of the estate and the largest cuvée by volume, Raveneau’s 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is composed of two-thirds lieu-dit Chapelot and one-third lieu-dit Pied d’Aloup, uniting the broader, more textural personality of the former with the taut, mineral profile of the latter. Soaring from the glass with a bouquet of white flowers, orange zest, pear and crisp stone fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample yet tensile and racy, concluding with a long, expansive finish. When it comes to Forêt, I tend to prefer Dauvissat’s interpretation, but it’s difficult to find a finer Montée de Tonnerre than the one produced by Raveneau." - Kristaps Karklins (Mar 2025)

93 Points - Allen Meadows' Burghound:
"A more elegant, if also more restrained, nose somewhat grudgingly reveals its aromas of cool, pure and airy floral, mineral reduction, seashore, crushed fennel and quinine hints that are also set off but a subtle dollop of oak. There is a really lovely texture to the medium-bodied flavors that aren't quite as powerful as those of the Butteaux but are noticeably finer with excellent length on the balanced finale. As is often the case when this is young, it needs to develop better depth but that should certainly come with enough time in bottle. Excellent development potential here as well. (Drink starting 2033)." (Oct 2025)

92-94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru has the most stony nose of Raveneau's Premier Crus. It shows sea cave and oyster shell notes, with very fine delineation. The palate is well balanced with orange pith and a touch of grapefruit. Fine depth, a little waxy in texture, building nicely towards a leesy finish. There's a completeness here that I admire, what you might describe as a sterling Montée de Tonnerre. (Drink between 2028-2050)." - Neal Martin (Aug 2024)

91-94 Points - Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy:
"Still a pale colour but the bouquet is more opulent. Tightly knit, with considerable power at the back of the palate, very slightly more exotic, some plums in the mix, fine length, finishes very well and with adequate tension. Drink from 2028-2036." (Oct 2024)