Aged Raveneau- Blind: Blanchot Vertical, 1990 Horizontal

I haven't had any experience with Raveneau before tonight, so this was quite the learning experience. We also had a couple of awesome food-related surprises tonight: Many thanks to the two generous group members who brought oysters!

Blind tasting reveals biases. I think if I had tasted this non-blind, I would have rated it higher based on reputation. It was enjoyable, but I thought the acidity was a little overpowering and off-balance. Still, as someone who grew up liking sour foods, I would love to sip on this on a hot day.

• 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia 85 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Served blind. Yellow-gold color; oxidation on the nose with waxy, citrus; palate full with over the top acidity, definitely some oxidation/age, tart, sour. Enjoyable, but somewhat disappointed when the wine was revealed. Thought a wine of this caliber would show better.

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I was able to pick out the majority of the younger 1990/1993 Raveneau, which I thought were uniform and of high quality. The older chablis were sometimes better and sometimes worse than the younger ones, but they were distinctive. I think drinking the wine at both ages has its merits. Overall excellent wines that will be a new standard for me when I drink chablis.

• 1990 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Aroma was clean, lime; palate had great acidity, lovely, tasted very young, hint of a bitter finish; finish medium-long. My #4, group #1. 93

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• 1990 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Chapelot 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Aroma of citrus hints, buttery; lovely acid on the palate, young; medium finish. Well made and very balanced, but didn't stand out from the other Raveneau. My #6, group's #2.

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• 1990 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Hint of spice, citrus, complex nose; palate has depth, great acidity, but I thought this showed a hint too much oak for my tastes. Good fruit; finish very long. Excellent. 94. My #5, group's #3.

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• 1990 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Nose has sweat, spice, ripe fruit like apricot on the nose; palate shows nervy acidity, good fruit, medium-long finish. My #2, Group's #4.

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• 1984 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  A wow nose for me. Funky, sweat, intense, good fruit; palate is full, balanced; medium finish. The intensity of the nose carried this wine and helped it really stand out of an excellent blind flight. 95-96. My #1, group's #5.

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• 1982 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Very nice early on with aromas of sweet cigars, some oxidation; palate had some smoke, full bodied, good fruit; short and bitter finish. This wine also fell apart a bit with air and got progressively worse. Still excellent, but my #7 and group's #7. 90

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• 1985 François Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  This wine had a nose that smelled exactly like a great funky cheese. The palate was bitter, not enough fruit. Somewhat corked and so not rated. My #8, group's #8.

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• 1993 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Clean pure nose with lemon-lime soda; palate is balanced, nervy acidity. An excellent wine with just enough uniqueness. My #3, group's #6. 94

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Overall, the things that I learned tonight:
1) Raveneau makes great chablis.
2) But, to be honest, I don't think it's so much better that it's worth the price. My sweet spot for chablis is probably a well priced, well made Fevre. Still, I'm not turning down any free Raveneau in the future.
3) The Raveneau that stood out for me (good and bad) were the oldest examples. They had the most character and unique aromas and flavors.
4) I was pretty accurate at picking out the "younger" (ie 20 year old) Raveneau (picked 4/5 of the 1990s and 1993). They were all well made and impeccably balanced, but were also easily replaced in character with a well made Fevre, at least for me.