2002 Domaine Raveneau Chablis Les Vaillons 1er Cru

(vinified in 100% new barrels) High-toned nose of apricot, marzipan and nutty oak; here the oak confers an almost exotic sweetness to the fruit. Then almost shockingly juicy and fresh in the mouth, with concentrated flavors of minerals and spiced apple. A big, round, sweet wine that's not particularly oaky in the middle. Finishes very broad and distinctly horizontal, with lingering notes of resiny oak and butter.

The 2002 Chablis Vaillons offers aromas reminiscent of liquefied stones, spices, and pears. Medium to full-bodied, it bursts on the palate with awesome layers of creamed almonds, salt, flint, and white fruit pulp. Its extraordinary texture, super-rich, plush, and sexy, is only surpassed on the wow-scale by its stupendous length ... this level of quality and Bernard Raveneau had not reached for the grand crus yet! Projected maturity: 2007-2015. “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!

Prominently oak with the wood spice complementing the natural spiciness of Vaillons and for the moment, completely dominating the nose and leading to big, muscular, robust, indeed even slightly rustic and chewy flavors that offer superb extract and a notably long finish that is markedly sweetened by the oak. A different style but impressive all the same. Allen Meadows, Burghound, Oct01,2004.