Domaine Francois Raveneau, Chablis Premier Cru, Montee de Tonnerre

Tasted blind, this wine had a medium deep yellow center and clear rims. The medium intensity nose was tight at first and eventually revealed apples, oyster shell, honey, and dried apricot notes. In the mouth, this wine was rich and ripe with lovely balance and great acidity. It had a sauvignon blanc type demeanor. I have had a lot of variation with this wine and it is unclear as to why. This bottle still tasted quite young and undeveloped. It …

1990 vintage

From magnum. Still holding in there with rounded citrus notes and some salinity. However, losing some of its definition even in this format.

1990 vintage

From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a deep yellow center and clear rims. The high- intensity nose blasted honey suckle, marzipan, white stone, and lemon. In the mouth, this was rich and ripe with huge acidity and outstanding length. This was clearly of Grand Cru quality. While arguably 95 points, this was perfectly ready and so good, I am going to go 96. There are not a lot of wines more pleasurable than a perfectly stored bottle …

1990 vintage

While an experienced Raveneau taster believed that the wine was advanced due to the darker colour and the muted nose, it tasted fine to me. Initially fat and oily but it bursted out with corn, coffee beans, marpizan, and grilled nuts while emerging acidity flowed through. Good complexity and depth with the precise amount of secondary note for my palate. It really took a few hours of air to come around.

1990 vintage

It took a good 2 hours for the wine to flesh out its full potential. Hazelnut, peach, corn and coffee beans. The acidity bursted out with more time in the glass. Still fresh and vibrant. Drank like an aged Chevalier Montrachet.

1990 vintage

From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a deep yellow center and clear rims. There was quite a bit of sediment in the bottle which is something I love to see. The high- intensity nose put forth pear, lemon, almond paste, honey, and white stone. In the mouth, this wine was rich and ripe in the attack but finished with a huge wall of acidity. The finish hung around forever. It was best after 5 hours of air. …

1990 vintage

Tasted blind, this wine had a deep yellow center and clear rims. The medium intensity nose emanated apples, macaroons, pears, lemons, and white stone. In the mouth, this wine got better and better in the glass. It did not start showing the trademark Raveneau honey note until about 40 minutes into the tasting despite being open for a couple hours prior. It was quite ripe and rich with nice acidity and excellent length. This bottle must have been in excellent …

1990 vintage

From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a bright yellow center and clear rims. The medium+ intensity emanated honeysuckle flowers, marzipan, lemons, and white stone. The flavor intensity got better and better with air. In the mouth, this wine was very good but a bit watery at first. It was very well balanced and classic Raveneau from the start. However, as with the nose, it improved with air. After 5+ hours the favor impact and intensity were impressive. …

1990 vintage

Acker Merrall Pre-Auction Tasting (Le Cirque - New York NY) : Tasting, brief note. Starts off ripe and almost tropical, very "1990" but not particularly "Chablis," but the power and richness beginning transforms into a minerally finish that is more elegant and classic. Well stored bottles, such as this one, should easily drink well for another decade.

1990 vintage

First bottle advanced. Second was elegant, pure Chablis. Minerals, body, nutty, and that soft texture of older Chablis. Drink these now. Held its own over 1+ hour open as any good wine should. Really top class.

1990 vintage

From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a 1 cm fill. It had a yellow center and clear rims. The high- intensity nose displayed lemons, honey, and white stone. It was classic Raveneau. In the mouth, it was rich and ripe but the "wall" of acidity was so powerful, the ripeness seemed like almost an afterthought. The class of this wine is a good argument for people who feel MdT should be a Grand Cru This appears to …

1990 vintage

The third time was not a charm for this wine. Golden. Immediately, sherried tones. While I thought it was completely dead, it then made a valiant effort to regain some salty Chablis aromas. Was it really oxidation or just the distinctive truffled honey nose of some old Raveneau? Great texture and still unbelievable acidity, but alas, after a brief period of deceptive resuscitation, it quickly fell apart and died an oxidized death. It almost seems churlish to check off that …

1990 vintage

I've been lucky enough to have this wine 3 times since 2008. Not only was this one the best of the bunch, but curiously, it was the youngest as well. Scents of lemon oil just poured out of the glass. Perhaps a bit weightier than other bottles with phenomenal balance of Grand Cru richness and underlying acidity and saltiness. No sulfur as in one bottle from 2008 and very little of the Raveneau hazelnut/wax so often found in mature bottles. …

1990 vintage

Aged Raveneau Blindtasted: Blanchot Vertical, 1990 Horizontal (Tom's House, Palo Alto, California) : Group's #4 (my #3) � 58 pts.; 1, 3, 2, 0 - medium golden yellow color; golden raisin, lanolin, honey, bee pollen gun powder nose; very tasty, poised, creamy textured, apple, bee pollen, tart lemon, mineral palate; long finish 93+ points

1990 vintage

Aged Raveneau- Blind: Blanchot Vertical, 1990 Horizontal (Tom's House, Palo Alto) : Nose has sweat, spice, ripe fruit like apricot on the nose; palate shows nervy acidity, good fruit, medium-long finish. My #2, Group's #4.

1990 vintage

The second oxidised bottle from the case in the past 4 months. Luckily only 2 to go, the earlier ones being fantastic

1990 vintage

Chablis and Red Burgundy (Nopa, San Francisco) : Medium golden color. Not nearly as floral and aromatic as the Butteaux, this took its time to unfold and show its Chablisen aromas of lemon peel. Less exotic, rich, and full than its stablemate, and also less marked by sulfur than the bottle we had earlier this month. This ultimately developed some of the hazelnut qualities I associate with Raveneau, while retaining its briskly acidic core. Tonight, almost a synthesis of the …

1990 vintage

Light gold, healthy looking for its age. Prominent, deeply embedded sulfur-I'd say 90% of it blew off with about 20 minutes in the decanter, but traces remained throughout a good portion of the bottle. Beneath this, very slowly unfurling nose that manages to strike an amazing balance between briny, youthful Chablis tones and gently honeyed notes of maturity without the least bit of oxidation. Medium weight (not as big a wine as the 2002, for example), fantastic acidity, long salty …

1990 vintage

From archive tasting 7/7/1995. No detailed notes taken but the description by CSteefel fits. Penetrating, unforgettable bouquet. Laser focused and an unbelievable pure expression of fruit for a wine that was in its infancy at the time. Incredibly long finish upwards of a minute. Classic chablis from an outstanding vintage, and the best I ever tasted. Naturally my score is based on memory, but there is no question this one lives in the sublime realm of 95 or higher. It …

1990 vintage

A Dozen Chablis From Domaine Raveneau, Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London : Yeasty nose. But again, marred by sulphury dampness. Underneath was a powerful poised wine, but still raw, even after sixteen years.

1990 vintage

Vertical: Fran�ois Raveneau Mont�e de Tonnerre 1983-2001; 2/22/2006-2/24/2006 : Group 3rd Place. My 2nd. Spring acidity like a french pressed shirt. Lazer sharp flavors. River rocks and screams for oysters. Long focused finish. Great bite with a zesty lemon that stays with you for a long time.

1990 vintage

Chablis Tasting, Rubicon Restaurant (Rubicon restaurant, San Francisco) : My Wine of the Night, this wine initially showed some prominent sulfur notes on the nose, as did all the 1990 Chablis. This blew off with time to reveal an exquisitely detailed and delicate nose of finely crushed stone, white flowers, honey, and hazelnuts. In the mouth, equally brilliantly delineated, this wine was surprisingly feminine in its style. Certainly less fat and full in the mouth than the 1990 Dauvissat Preuses, …

1990 vintage

Chablis Dinner in San Francisco (Rubicon Restaurant, San Francisco) : Pale yellow, looks about the same as a 2002. Initially reticent but evolving nose, outstanding depth and cut, great finish. Like flower-and-honey-infused water filtered through crushed stone. Incredible juice, gets better and better in the glass. This baby is young and has miles to go. This was probably the best wine of the night, but sadly I was getting a little stuffed up and couldn't appreciate the nose on this …

1990 vintage

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Domaine Francois Raveneau, Chablis Premier Cru, Montee de Tonnerre

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