2021 Domaine Francois Raveneau Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux [JM92-95][D94][JG94][BH91-94][V93][WA92] WINE

Jasper Morris, 92-95 Points 

“Pure clean pale color. The nose has an excellent purity as well with a sense of weight of fruit to follow. Much more behind, lively crystalline style, lots of detail, and a fresh invigorating finish. The 2021 Butteaux is just setting out on a very promising journey. Drink from 2026-2032.” 

Decanter, 94 Points 

“The average vine age here is 45 years, from a 1.5ha site in Butteaux which is higher up in the valley. Pronounced floral aromas of white peach and some slightly more exotic jasmine notes. Intensity on the palate with additional concentration from the old vines – a touch of dried stone fruit. A deep and profound premier cru which has a luscious palate whilst also managing to be supremely elegant yet also weighty and powerful. This will last many years.” 

John Gilman, 94 Points 

“The 2021 Butteaux is just a touch more structured than any of these preceding premier crus and will probably want a year or two more in the cellar before starting to drink the wine, but it too is fairly forward structurally by the standards of this excellent bottling. The gorgeous bouquet jumps from the glass in a mix of pear, apple, lemon, a beautiful base of chalky soil tones, white flowers and a hint of anise in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and complex, with a lovely core, fine soil signature and grip, excellent focus and a long, balanced and vibrant finish. I love the backend tension and lift in the Butteaux this year. (Drink between 2027-2065)” 

Burghound, 91-94 Points 

“Note: from 1.49 ha holding of 40+ year old vines An overtly floral nose speaks of elegant and admirably pure aromas of quinine, white-fleshed fruit and a plethora of classic Chablis elements and in particular, iodine. There is excellent volume to the concentrated and powerful medium weight plus flavors that flash evident minerality on the markedly dry, youthfully austere and slightly more complex finale. This is quite tightly wrapped and as is usually the case, this should prove to be long-lived. *Burghound Sweet Spot Outstanding!” 

Vinous, 93 Points 

“The 2021 Chablis Les Butteaux 1er Cru builds on its promise from last year with effervescent yellow fruit, quince and crushed stone aromas, with just a hint of hazelnut in the background. The palate’s intense bouquet has a touch of wild fennel infusing the citrus fruit, strict and focused, with an almost penetrating finish. This is going to give 15-20 years of pleasure.” 

Wine Advocate, 92 Points 

“A strong effort in this challenging year, Raveneau’s 2021 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux reveals aromas of orange zest, pear, honeycomb and buttery pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny palate that’s pure and racy, with a sweet core of fruit and a nicely defined finish. On my most recent visit to the domaine, Isabelle Raveneau presented the young wines from barrel, along with a selection of the just-bottled 2021s. She compares the 2022 vintage with 2020; and in the wines’ purity of fruit and ability to remain fresh and ethereal in so warm a year, 2022 is indeed strongly reminiscent of a somewhat fleshier 2020. The young 2021s couldn’t offer more of a contrast: chiseled and incisive, with a touch of aromatic exotica in the generic Chablis bottling; but they are far from austere, and much like the domaine’s 2016s, I suspect they will be quite approachable young despite their more old-school profile. Readers looking for more information on the history and approach of Domaine Raveneau are directed to my article in the End of March 2019 issue of The Wine Advocate.”