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.
91-93 Points Allen Meadows
A much more deeply pitched nose features notes of dark currant, plum, violet and a hint of game. There is both a bit more volume and richness to the delicious and attractively textured flavors that possess focused power and solid punch on the lingering finish that is shaped by firm tannins. This should be approachable young, yet age well too.