Francois Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru 2023

Burghound Sweet spot Outstanding ♥ - 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. 95 points Charles Curtis MW, Decanter

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. 94-95 points Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate