Scores

90/100

The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Fôrets has a very attractive, pine needle-tinged bouquet with a subtle mineral element (wet limestone) in the background. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, clearly a level up from the village cru, with hints of shaved ginger flourishing toward the finish. This is showing nicely. There is something nonchalant about this Fôrets, although it needs perhaps just another year in bottle.

It is stiflingly hot in Chablis. The sun is beating down mercilessly. What better way to cool down than a tasting at Domaine Raveneau? Isabelle Raveneau, who has taken an increasingly central role in the running of Chablis’ most famous Domaine, advised that it was particularly cool down in their barrel cellar and recommended a jacket, a thought that was inconceivable given the heat outside. I told her that I would relish the chance to cool down in a T-shirt and managed to taste through their 2013s in bottle and 2014s from barrel without contracting hypothermia.

We are happy with the overall quality of the 2013s given the vintage, Isabelle told me in her impeccable English, honed during her time living in Kent. September was very sunny but you had humidity, so the grapes turned from ‘just about ripe’ to rot within a week. How quick you harvested w(more...)

Neal Martin