Not only does the Raveneau family own many of the finest sites in the appellation, but their wines have a steely magnificence that captures the essence of Chablis’ distinctive terroir. The greatness of Raveneau’s Chablis has even led some to suggest they deserve an appellation of their own.
Raveneau wines are famous for their longevity. In fact, many believe that a top Raveneau Chablis doesn’t hit its stride until it’s at least 8 to 10 years old. At this time, the wines not only acquire even greater richness, but layer upon layer of previously hidden flavors are revealed.
Along with René and Vincent Dauvissat, Raveneau pioneered the use of Côte d’Or winemaking in Chablis, including barrel fermentation and extended lees contact.
96 Points William Kelley (Wine Advocate)
Like many wines from this initially tight-knit vintage, the 2010 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos from Vincent Dauvissat is drinking surprisingly well, unfurling in the glass with notes of honeycomb, lemon oil, wheat toast, mandarin and oystershell, framed by subtly smoky reduction that dissipates with aeration. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, concentrated and multidimensional, with considerable mid-palate depth and dimension married with incredible crystalline purity and stony tension. The finish is long and precise.
97+ Points Vinous
Bright light yellow. Brilliant, slightly wild nose combines lemon, white pepper, minerals, white truffle and wild herbs, plus complicating hints of noble rot and passerillage. Wonderfully creamy and fine-grained, with a lovely hint of sweetness giving this wine a considerable pleasure quotient even now. This bracingly energetic yet somehow silky Clos saturates the entire palate and vibrates and sizzles on the slowly mounting whiplash of a finish, which leaves behind traces of resin and chlorophyll. There’s still a noble bitterness here and a very tight kernel of fruit, but this outstanding Clos is closer to drinking than the previous vintages. Really tastes of the sea. Dauvissat told me that this wine tasted good virtually from the start; in fact, he was afraid that it was more a wine of ripeness than of terroir. Today it has it all, with more to come. ST
98 Points John Gilman
The utterly brilliant 2010 Dauvissat les Clos looks at this early stage to be even a small step up from the magical les Preuses. The profoundly complex nose soars from the glass in a mélange of grapefruit, tart orange, crystalline minerality, white flowers, wet stones, orange peel, white flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very, very pure, with a rock solid core of fruit, stunning transparency, brisk acids and laser-like focus on the perfectly balanced, hauntingly mineral and endless finish. Just a brilliant, brilliant young bottle of Chablis. Drink between 2018-2050.