2011 Domaine Raveneau Chablis Monts Mains 1er Cru

Layers of beautifully articulated fruit flow across the palate as the 2011 Chablis Montmains opens up in the glass. The Montmains is all about textural elegance and finesse. Today the aromatics haven't fully formed, but I expect that will happen over time. This is another attractive wine with plenty of the early appeal that is the hallmark of the vintage. I expect the Montmains will drink well pretty much upon release.

Layers of beautifully articulated fruit flow across the palate as the 2011 Chablis Montmains opens up in the glass. The Montmains is all about textural elegance and finesse. Today the aromatics haven’t fully formed, but I expect that will happen over time. This is another attractive wine with plenty of the early appeal that is the hallmark of the vintage. I expect the Montmains will drink well pretty much upon release. Anticipated maturity: 2013+. (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

Complex, energetic aromas of grapefruit pith, lemon peel, dusty stone, mint and savory minerality. Densely packed, juicy and dry, with grapefruit and saline mineral flavors that reminded me a bit of sauvignon blanc. Finishes with a tart edge but very good persistence.