2023 Chablis Les Clos

Raveneau’s 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Clos, issuing from a rather windy, stony south-facing site in the middle of the climat’s slope, is another success. It wafts from the glass with a deep bouquet of beeswax, orange zest, pear and dried white flowers. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and multidimensional, with a concentrated core of fruit and a slightly more powerful profile than the other grands crus, concluding with a long, resonating finish. Although I presently give slight preference to the Valmur, time will tell which turns out to be a finer wine. With its strong record, it’s difficult to bet against Clos. Raveneau owns just 0.5 hectares of Les Clos; magic awaits those who will manage to secure a bottle or two and enjoy at its plenitude, some 15 years after the vintage.

The 2023 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has a delightful bouquet. Pure yellow fruit intermixed with peach skin, grapefruit and beeswax, gain complexity with each swirl of the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a waxy texture on the entry, crisp acidity. Rather tight at the moment and perhaps the Valmur has more nascent charm? Still, there is a sense of completeness and harmony here and it should age with style (of course).