Chablis 1er Cru "Montée de Tonnerre" 2022 - François Raveneau

Domaine François Raveneau - Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2022

⚠️ Important note: This bottle is offered for pre-order (or "Ex-Domaine / Primeur") and will be physically available for shipping or collection from January 5, 2026. Perfect condition.

The Domain of Worship: François Raveneau

Domaine François Raveneau, along with Dauvissat, is the name that makes all lovers of great, mineral-driven white Chardonnays dream. The Raveneau style is inimitable: a traditional approach, low yields, and subtle oak aging that gives its Chablis a crystalline precision, a saline energy, and legendary longevity. Their wines are world-renowned for their ability to express the region's Kimmeridgian limestone with absolute purity.

Exceptional Terroir: Tonnerre Ascent

The Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre is an exceptional site, located on the right bank of the Serein River, right next to the Grands Crus. This terroir is renowned for its soils rich in marine fossils, which impart a distinctive minerality, great complexity, and extraordinary structure to the wine. The Raveneau parcel, composed of several named plots, yields a Montée de Tonnerre that combines aromatic finesse, concentration, and an electric tension that sets it apart.

The 2022 Vintage: Sunny and Vibrant

The 2022 vintage in Chablis has been hailed by critics as a major success. It benefited from favorable conditions, ensuring excellent fruit ripeness while preserving the acidity and tension characteristic of Montée de Tonnerre. Tasters highlight its balanced richness, sublime texture, and concentrated power that promises exceptional aging potential (William Kelley: "ample and fleshy, with bright acidity and a long, saline finish").

Tasting Notes and Aging Potential

At this stage, the wine already shows an impressive concentration:

• Nose: Floral, opulent citrus (orange oil, lemon), notes of oyster shell and subtle spices.
• Palate: The texture is described as "sublime," very dense and structured. The wine has vibrant acidity and an almost painfully long mineral finish in its youth.
• Potential: This is a wine with very long aging potential. Critics recommend forgetting about it for at least a decade (2030-2050) to allow it to fully reveal its complexity.

Critics' Reviews (Scores)

This 2022 Montée de Tonnerre is one of the best of the vintage:

• Tim Atkin: 95/100 ("This is a masterpiece of a Thunderclap.")
• Burghound: 94/100 ("A stunner... Outstanding.")
• Jasper Morris: 94/100 (“Perfect poise and balance.”)

Food & Wine Pairing and Service

At present, this wine is far too young and closed. Once mature, its saline energy and complexity will pair perfectly with the most refined dishes.

• Serving temperature: 12°C.
• Pairings: Grilled lobster, scallops, Bresse chicken with cream and morels, or with large mature goat cheeses.