Chance. Yesterday morning Vincent Ravaut began our tasting at the domaine with a simple glass of white from an unmarked bottle — “just to arrange the palate,” he explained. The wine was a very pretty chardonnay, with a lovely nose of white flowers and almonds and a rich but lively mouthfeel. Noting our interest, Vincent explained it was the domaine’s entry-level Bourgogne blanc from 2013; he then smiled and broke the news that it was “épuisé” (sold out) for some time.
We’re happy to report we still have a little of the Bourgogne 2013 in our warehouse. We usually don’t cellar Bourgogne blancs for all that long — they’re generally best in the year or two after harvest. But Ravaut’s 2013 Bourgogne began with robust acidity, which has helped it weather the past few years beautifully. Today’s it’s as pleasant and balanced a glass of Chardonnay as we’ve had all month.
Undiscovered. The Ravaut family continues to be the ultimate local wine source. A generation ago the family developed a clientele among the workers in the quarries next door, and today they continue to sell more than half of their wine to local customers — the cellar was crowded yesterday with visitors from Paris and elsewhere in France. The Ravauts fly mostly below the radar of the international wine press, and we feel lucky to have found them.
Vincent has put together some fantastic wines of late — his 2015 whites and 2014 reds will appear in Futures later this fall, and they are both exceptional vintages. But in the meantime, the last few cases of the Bourgogne 2013 are sure to find many friends. With a rich mouthfeel and beautiful balance, this is a wine for gourmands :generous, fresh, easy to drink, and it pairs beautifully with food. There are faint notes of fennel next to the traditional lemon and toast. Try this with a mushroom risotto.
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RAVAUT Bourgogne blanc 2013
Ansonia Retail: $26
case, half-case: $22/bot
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AVAILABLE IN 6- AND 12- BOTTLE LOTS
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or call Tom: (617) 249-3657
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Terms of sale. Ansonia Wines MA sells wine to individual consumers who are 21 or more years of age, for personal consumption and not for resale. All sales are completed and title passes to purchasers in Massachusetts. Ansonia Wines MA arranges for shipping on behalf of its customers upon request and where applicable laws permit.