2019 Chablis, Valmur, Domaine Raveneau

A brooding if broad-ranging nose features notes of green fruit, white flowers, iodine, ocean breeze and a touch of mineral reduction that is also trimmed in just enough wood to mention. The rich, powerful and very concentrated broad-shouldered flavors are pungently saline, indeed this is almost salty, while the focused and driving finish also delivers huge persistence. This almost painfully intense effort is also indisputably built-to-age and a wine that will also need a minimum of 10 years of cellaring to be approachable. ~ (96) Allen Meadows, Burghound 10-10-2021

A strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage in Chablis this year, the Raveneau family's 2019 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp green apple, citrus zest, iodine, oyster shell and fresh hazelnuts. Full-bodied, taut and chiseled, it's incredibly taut and concentrated, with huge depth at the core, tangy acids and a long, penetrating, pungently saline finish. Might this turn out to be even better than the magical 2017? Time will tell, but this is clearly a masterful achievement. ~ (97) William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 7-21-2022

The 2019 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru conveys strictness and correctness on the nose compared to the more expressive and perhaps more aromatically elegant Blanchots. This is a little austere at first, but it warms up nicely and reveals subtle orange blossom and undergrowth scents. The harmonious palate is very well balanced, with hints of white chocolate and orange pith surfacing with time. Overall, I am just slightly impressed by the precision shown by the Blanchots at this early juncture. ~ (94) Neal Martin, Vinous 10-1-2021