Raveneau Butteaux Vertical

Vin Vino, Palo Alto
Tasted Thursday, June 25, 2009 by drwine2001 with 428 views

Introduction

A wonderful opportunity to taste through this marvelous Premier Cru. The gradation of color from youngest to oldest was just as expected with the exception of the 2005 being slightly darker than the '04. Vintage differences really shone through in these wines, so it was an instructive look at the Chablis vintages of this decade. The '99 and '01 were offered, but I passed on these 2 wines.

Flight 1 (5 Notes)

  • 2006 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Briskly salty nose. Initially, a strong core of citrus with moderate acidity and some dilution mid-palate. This sweetened, lengthened, and filled out impressively though, and the fruit took on a more Chenin-like pear character. In the end, my third favorite wine of the 5 tasted.

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  • 2005 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Much riper than the '06 with tropical fruit and some apparent wood. Rich but somehow, the texture is not that pleasing, again with the sensation that there is some oaky astringency (despite the supposed lack of new barrels at this address). Comes across as duller than any of the other wines and heavy. Most anonymous and least Chablisien of the group. Frankly disappointing.

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  • 2004 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Ah, now here is a classic iodine Chablis nose. Backward, lean, and stony. Given its combination of light weight and lively acidity, this dances. Lemon oil and white flowers pick up over time. Absolutely lovely, classic, and my favorite wine of the flight.

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  • 2002 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    This had more of the trademark Raveneau hazelnut than any other vintage. Creamy, rich with predominantly citrus fruit with complicating notes of paraffin and spice. Pretty exotic stuff with a wonderful texture, but the delineation is not quite there, and the finish is a bit short. I must say that for the reputation of the vintage, this was a bit of a let down as well.

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  • 2000 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Lactic aromas with pineapple fruit. Some truffle and other secondary tones emerged with air. Not as fruity as the '02, but again orange is there. Acidity is better than the '02, and the weight is more like the '04. This continued to grow on me over the tasting and in the end was just behind the '04 in my personal ranking of the wines. It is just beginning to develop into an adolescent stage, and I can see the '04 evolving in a similar way temporally and stylistically.

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