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 Brothers Raveneau are a dream team. They carry the family torch with pride, yet with a reserve, pragmatism, and humility that is more likely found among true farmers than the artists they are. There is no set division of labour between the brothers, just “all hands on deck,” as each one brings his own expertise to the mix.
This Chablis 1er Cru Forêt is made from 0.67 hectares of 15-year-old vines.
Here too the wood treatment is admirably discreet on the more elegant white flower and citrus-infused aromas that display classic Chablis scents. The textured and highly energetic medium-bodied flavours exude a subtle minerality on the powerful, serious, and built-to-age finish. This pungently saline effort will definitely need at least some patience.