2002 Chablis Montmains

Candied lemons and intense spices can be found in the nose of the 2002 Chablis Montmains. Medium-bodied, sporting a silky-texture, this suave, supple effort coats the palate with ripe pears, minerals, and spices. It is fruit-forward and appears to be made for early drinking, yet Domaine Raveneau has a tendency to tighten their wines at bottling so readers may need to wait a year or two before enjoying it. Projected maturity: 2006-2010. “2002 was the kind of vintage we’d love to see every year, it has excellent balance and loads of flesh,” said Bernard Raveneau. Harvest for the Raveneaus began the last week of September, and the grapes were “healthy, with between 4 and 4.5 grams of acidity (per liter), and ripe, there was no need to chaptalize.” The estate’s wines will be bottled in April and May, 2004. I have never tasted a line-up of Chablis with the sensual textures and stunning terroir-driven flavor profiles exhibited by Domaine Raveneau’s 2002s. These are magnificent wines that I would do almost anything to own, age, and drink... Bravo!