Domaine François Raveneau

Why we follow Domaine François Raveneau

The estate

If there is a single reference point for Chablis built to age, it is Raveneau. François Raveneau founded the domaine in 1948, combining his own purchases with vineyards from his wife's family, the Dauvissats. The two great Chablis families are related, which explains a good deal about the shared philosophy at the top of the appellation. François bought grand and premier cru land through the 1960s and 70s, when Chablis was unfashionable and the parcels were cheap. He retired in 1988 and died in 2000. The domaine has since passed through his sons Bernard and Jean-Marie to the fourth generation, with Maxime Raveneau joining in 2017 and Isabelle Raveneau now speaking for the estate.

The vineyards

The holdings are tiny relative to the reputation. Les Clos, Blanchots and Valmur make up the grand cru, none of them larger than three quarters of a hectare. The largest single parcel is premier cru Montée de Tonnerre at just over three hectares, with Montmains, Butteaux, Forêt, Chapelot and Vaillons filling out the range. Right-bank grand cru fruit and the best of the premier crus give these wines their frame.

In the glass

Raveneau is not a wine that flatters early. Fermentation and long ageing in older oak, including traditional feuillettes, produce something savoury and closed in youth that unwinds slowly over a decade or more. Montée de Tonnerre is the benchmark, a premier cru that behaves like a grand cru, and Les Clos is the collector's wine. Because demand so far exceeds what the family can make, Raveneau is among the most counterfeited white wines in the world. Provenance matters here more than almost anywhere.

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the January – February release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.