Raphet 2024 Offer – One of our most anticipated releases on the Burgundy calendar

We expect a strong response to this offer, so please get in early to avoid missing out.

Jeb Dunnuck’s top 100 wines of 2020

As is his wont, Gérard Raphet had even less than usual to say about the vintage though he did tell me that he is officially retiring in favor of his daughter Marion, who has been a hovering and helpful presence during my tastings here for a number of years now. As such, I am afraid that I don't have even the bare minimum detail to share with you, my cherished readers! I suspect that going forward however Marion will be more forthcoming than her famously laconic father, at least I certainly hope so. BURGHOUND

This is now certainly a good source, for Morey st denis and Gevrey-Chambertin, along with grands crus Clos de Vougeot, Clos de la Roche, Charmes-Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. JASPER MORRIS MW

We love these wines for their pure fruit, their persistence on the palate and their fidelity to the terroir that the Raphet family has worked for generations—they are classic, beautiful wines that because of their balance and purity will age very well, too. Ridiculously limited. Indeed of all our Burgundy partners, Raphet inspires the most emotion when trying to describe what exactly makes these wines so captivating. Raphet Burgundy surprises and delights; it opens the possibilities of what great, old-vine Burgundy can do, and just how intimate and special that experience can be. KERMIT LYNCH

Nothing gives me more pleasure than foraging for winemakers unknown to myself, or those that I have never visited. There are innumerable “under-the-radar” growers in Burgundy, and I use that term knowing that some oenophile’s radars are better than others.
The Raphets farm around 12 hectares of vines mainly around Morey-Saint-Denis: an impressive portfolio that includes five Grand Crus and three Grand Crus (alas, only a partial selection for tasting). They have some very old vine stock to work with, the fruit picked by hand, fermented with natural yeasts, matured for around 18 months in barrel (around 15% new) and bottled without fining or filtration. I absolute loved the two latest vintages of Clos de Vougeot, so much so that I was compelled to mention Raphet here and make a vow to visit the domaine on my next visit to Burgundy. NEAL MARTIN

The one, the only, G Raphet.

I always love including Meadows comments on the tasting. It’s the same every year. Basically “Gerard doesn’t talk and he doesn’t like wine writers”. It’s so funny to anyone who has met the man. He is gruff to us, and we import his wines. I cant imagine how grumpy he must seem to anyone who dares write about his wines. There is a reason critics don’t go there. Its great. I only hope Marion keeps up the tradition.

It’s such a pleasure to write these wines up these days. There was a time, in the not too distant past, where we had to convince people to buy them. Really had to push some customers into trying some. With every new release more and more of you jumped on the flavour train that is Raphet and their reputation here in Oz took off. Today I just worry about having enough stock to cover the rusted on Raphet drinkers.

It’s a great story. Great wines. Funny people.

The Raphet family have some of the most extensive, and prime, holdings in the entire Cote. The key is, they sell most of their fruit. The keep the best parcels for the domaine and the rest is sold to negociants.

They actually built a brand new cellar, state of the art with all the bells and whistles. So far removed from the tiny, cramped, underground cellar they occupied in Morey before. They had intended, at one point, to produce more wine form their holdings. Marion, Gerard’s daughter, is now fully in charge, and she runs that place like a general in war time. Everything is done just right. I can only imagine her dad is forever pottering around, making “suggestions” and giving “advice” but she has undoubtedly brought the family domaine up to new levels of excellence and I think her dad can see that now.

I remember asking her, years ago, what she had changed from what her dad had done. She replied with something like “I haven’t changed anything, why change what is perfect?” There is no doubt that she had changed much, but having met her dad many times, I can see why she would be a little hesitant to suggest as much. He is very… sure of things.

These days there is all the grace, perfume, silken textures, sweet tannins and airy character that we all fell in love with when Gerard was making the wines. However better vineyard management, a fully trained winemaker (Marion), long elevage (they now have the room to hold wine in barrel longer) and other subtle tweaks have resulted in wines with more substance, cushioning and a generally sumptuous nature that only adds to the appeal of one of my favourite domaines to drink. Gorgeous wines that always hit the ground running. Their open knit, inviting and gentle natures mean Raphet can be enjoyed across a long drinking window, and even their big guns are enjoyable young.

The keen eyed among you will notice there is also some 2023s. You may be aware that Burgundy was ravaged by frost again in 2024, yields were drastically reduced and many have suggested their crops were smaller than 2016. Thankfully Raphet has offered us just a little more from last year, to bolster the tiny allocation this year.

As we always do with these wines, we have applied a 20% (slightly more in some cases) discount to every bottle.

They are due to arrive in the first week of July, if the shipping gods are kind.

As always a few special mentions here.

Bourgogne. Buy as much as you can. It always over delivers and has become something of a PWS legend amongst lots of our customers. Great fruit, all from the Cote and excellent holdings. Made with all the love and care of their top wines. It has a proven track record to age well in the short term, kinda five years ish. Banging drink and banging value.

Everyone jumps straight on Chambolle. I get it. Chambolle is hard to find. Good Chambolle at sensible prices is a rarity indeed. But, Morey... They have some of the best vineyards in the town. Their Morey ALWAYS hits the mark. If you want beautiful wine to drink and that can build extra dimension with some time, but wont break your bank, their Morey is something of a weapon.

Les Millandes, yeah, we don’t always get it. It’s a small holding for them. Directly adjacent to Riotte, it’s a Cru that probably doesn’t get the attention it deserves because none of the more famous producers own any. Often the way with Crus like this. No matter how good they may be, if a super star doesn’t own some then people tend to overlook the vineyard. It’s generally in the darker, richer and more earthy side of Morey. Certainly its one of their more robust offerings, that’s just the vineyard talking, but it put a smile on the face of anyone who opens it, especially if you have a wee bit of patience. The older versions I have tried, there at the estate, open up beautifully.

Wait, Roscoe, where are the Grand Crus?

They are coming. I will offer them separately this year. I think it is just too many wines on one offer and I would like to take the time to delve into each of his climats individually. So, in a week or two that should be in your inbox. If there is something you absolutely must have please let me know and ill sort it out for you.

Also, many of you will notice that some wines are missing entirely, other than the Grands. These were not made this year due to the tiny yields I mentioned before. Making this allocation even more challenging due to the fewer wines.

Those in the know will be accustomed to the lack of reviews. The only person they tend to see is Meadows, and I am not sure he really gets the wines. They are always lighter, that’s the house style, purity of place and gentle in delivery. I have added some comments from other vintages, up above, from the few people who have tasted their wines over the years. You really have to know Gerard to understand why critics don’t turn up. To say he is gruff, or short (in stature and in his commentary) with people is a wild understatement. He does warm to folks, but it takes a while and he doesn’t think much of critics. Who can blame him?

I think that covers everything. I mean, who doesn’t love Raphet?