2016 Domaine Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru "Butteaux" 6-Pack

The Raveneaus’ 2016 Butteaux is a beautiful and quite classic wine in the making. The bouquet is a bit more reserved than any of the other premier crus up to this point in the tasting, but very promising in its mélange of pear, a touch of tangerine, lemon, chalky soil tones, gentle notes of beeswax and a fine topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and beautifully balanced, with a fine core, bright, zesty acids and fine length and grip on the very long and very precise finish. A classic.

Raveneau's 2016 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux is excellent, offering up a youthfully reserved bouquet of apple, white peach, beeswax and dried flowers. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with lovely texture, considerable mid-palate amplitude and a bright line of acidity, concluding with a firm, salty finish that balances its somewhat gourmand attack. Along with the Vaillons, the Butteaux stood out as one of the most complete of Raveneau's premiers crus this year, revealing more and more nuance over several days. Right now, it's quite closed, but I won't be surprised if it becomes quite musky and exotic after a few years in the cellar. (WK)