Raveneau, Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 2002

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani

The 2002 Chablis Butteaux explodes from the glass with pulp-laden apples and salty minerals. Loads of creamed almonds, sea salt, pears, and apples can be found in its boisterously flavored core. Medium-bodied and with terrific mouth-feel (like a goose-down pillow), it possesses an admirably long, expressive finish. Drink it between 2006 and 2012. “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!