2018 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot – Domaine François Raveneau
Blanchot is often considered the most refined and floral of Chablis’ grand crus, and in the hands of Domaine François Raveneau it becomes something altogether more profound. The 2018 vintage, warm and generous across Burgundy, brought natural richness to the wines, yet Raveneau’s instinct for balance ensures that precision and minerality remain at the forefront.
The nose is layered and quietly complex, offering lemon zest, white peach and green apple, intertwined with oyster shell, crushed chalk and a faint smoky reduction. With air, subtle hints of acacia blossom and hazelnut emerge. On the palate, the wine is both expansive and tightly coiled — ripe citrus and orchard fruit are framed by bright acidity and a powerful saline spine. The texture is concentrated but never heavy, and the finish unfolds slowly, revealing notes of citrus oil, iodine and wet stone that linger with remarkable persistence.
A grand cru of depth and energy, marrying the generosity of the vintage with Raveneau’s hallmark tension and ageing capacity.
Corked Points: 96/100
Sommelier Diary #93
