Domaine Francois Raveneau Butteaux Chablis 1er Cru 2023

Description

Domaine Francois Raveneau Butteaux Chablis 1er Cru 2023

Domaine Franois Raveneau is a noted producer based in the Burgundy subregion of Chablis, where the small plots of Chardonnay produce some of the appellation’s most sought-after wines.

The domaine was founded in 1948, when Franois Raveneau and his wife combined their families’ vineyard holdings. He was the first of his family to bottle wines made from the grapes from his vineyards prior to this the grapes had been sold off to other producers.

Today the domaine has eight hectares (20 acres) of land spread across three grand cru and six premier cru sites in Chablis. It is run by Franois’ sons: Bernard and Jean-Marie.

Domaine Franois Raveneau has small plots in grand cru sites Blanchot, Les Clos and Valmur and premier cru sites Monte de Tonnerre, Les Vaillons, Butteaux, Chapelot, Montmains, and Fort. Most of these sites are planted on southwest-facing valley slopes, which allow for maximum sun exposure and ripening.

Butteaux is the southernmost of three Premier Cru climats that make up the wider Chablis Montmains Premier Cru umbrella title. Butteaux’s steep slope and its limestone-rich soils mark it out as a high-performing terroir. Chardonnay-based wines from Butteaux tend to be powerful and steely, with subtle characters of stonefruit and apple.

Although Butteaux and its esteemed northern neighbour, Chablis Forets, fall under the Montmains title (along with the eponymous climat beyond, almost touching Chablis town) and can be labeled as the latter, both regularly seen under their own names.