2011 Domaine Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Foret"

Not surprisingly this offers a big step up in aromatic complexity with its fresh and cool nose of citrus, white peach and soft floral scents. There is plenty of underlying tension to the precise, intense and mineral-inflected flavors that possess good balance and much better depth and length.

The Raveneau 2011 Chablis La Foret - like their village Chablis, bottled early this year, several months ahead of the estate’s other premier crus - is surprisingly marked by lanolin and resin notes attributable to oak. But abundant fresh lime and apple mingle with alkaline and saline marine elements for a performance both satisfyingly juicy and - at least incipiently - intriguingly mineral, not to mention impressively persistent. Pending a more encouraging interim report - and I am surprised not to be more impressed by what I have just tasted - I would have to tentatively suggest that one plan on enjoying this by 2016. (DS)