Gérard Raphet – the quiet man of Morey-Saint-Denis – lets his wines do the talking. With some exceptional terroir to play with and some very old vines, his wines exude “terroir”. His impressive holdings (totally 12 hectares) include five cuvees coming from four of the best Cote de Nuits Grands Crus – Chambertin Clos de Beze, Charmes Chambertin, Clos de la Roche and Clos de Vougeot. He has two cuvees from Clos Vougeot (a standard Grand Cru and a Vieilles Vignes) as well as three top Premier Cru sites, plus village wines from Chambolle Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis.
Raphet’s style is one of purity and precision over and above power and concentration. But don’t be fooled; his lightly-coloured Pinots have a deceptive intensity, often described as the epitome of purity and finesse, and “a real Burgundy lover’s Burgundy”. His light extraction and low percentage of new oak (15%) promote distinct terroir characteristics over winemaking techniques, whilst the incredibly old vines only further accentuate the terroir of each vineyard.
90 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Raphet’s 2002 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru exhibits a bouquet of cassis and plums mingled with aromas of menthol, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and expressive, it’s open-knit but nicely defined, with lively acids and a sapid finish.