2010 Chablis Foret
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
What a treat it is to drink the 2010 Chablis 1er Cru Forêt from Raveneau. I can’t remember the last time I tasted this, it could very well have been when I reviewed it from bottle ten years ago! Back then, I wrote that “The 2010 isn't the most complex Forêt, but it is likely to drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this lineup because of its round, immediate personality.” That’s actually turned out to be pretty accurate. Thank God. Hints of apricot, white flowers, lemon peel and crushed rocks all grace the 2010 Chablis 1er Cru Forêt. Time has softened the youthful energy that was present in the early days, leaving the wine feeling airy and gracious. Everything about the 2010 is so appealing. The Forêt doesn’t have the depth of intensity of the top 1er Crus or the Grand Crus in the range, but it has aged exquisitely. I would not push my luck on further aging, as the 2010 is not likely to improve much from here.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Chablis Forêt is rich, layered and totally sensual. A highly expressive tapestry of aromas and flavors emerges from the glass in this rich, textured wine. The Forêt is all about harmony. The 2010 isn't the most complex Forêt, but it is likely to drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this lineup because of its round, immediate personality.
The 2010 Chablis Foret is rich, layered and totally sensual. A highly expressive tapestry of aromas and flavors emerges from the glass in this rich, textured wine. The Foret is all about harmony. The 2011 isn’t the most complex Foret, but it is likely to drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this lineup because of its round, immediate personality. Anticipated maturity: 2015. (Not yet released) My visit with Bernard Raveneau was one of the highlights of my trip to Chablis earlier this summer. At their best, Raveneau’s wines are contemplative and breathtakingly beautiful. I never miss a chance to drink them whenever I can. The 2011 harvest started on September 5th and lasted 6 days. Hail was an issue in some spots, most notable Les Clos and Montee de Tonnerre, where yields were down 25%. Raveneau adds that a measure of minerality is missing because of the late rains in the season. Raveneau thinks the 2010s have more character than the 2011s. The irregular flowering was most severe on the right bank (Clos and Montee de Tonnerre in particular), while the left bank, which was a week later to flower moved through the flowering with only a 10-15% reduction in yields, modest within the context of the vintage. Raveneau told me the 2010s were very austere at the outset. He thought they might stay that way, instead the wines softened considerably after the malos, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The 2010s were bottled end of May 2012, quite late by Chablis standards. As for the wines, they are pretty stratospheric. There is a sense of utter life and vividness in the 2010s that makes them utterly irresistible. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Very ripe aromas of peach, flowers and white truffle. At once smooth and youthfully tight, with lovely cut and energy to its flavors of crystallized citrus peel and flowers. Considerably more penetrating than the village wine, and distinctly chewier and more serious than the 2011 example. Finishes firm and persistent.