Gérard Raphet

In 2002, Gérard Raphet took over the family business from his father, Jean. As the fourth generation of the Raphet family, he leads the estate with the same dedication that has characterized his ancestors. Today, the new generation is stepping in: Gérard’s daughter Marion is now working in the vineyards and on the estate. She is the first in the family to have received formal training as a winemaker and is bringing fresh ideas that are elevating the estate’s quality to ever greater heights.

The Gérard Raphet estate encompasses 12 hectares of exceptional vineyards, located in some of the most prestigious appellations around Morey-Saint-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin. Their holdings include legendary Grand Cru vineyards such as Clos de Vougeot, Clos de la Roche, Charmes-Chambertin, and Chambertin Clos de Bèze. Additionally, the vines are remarkably old, ranging from 35 to as much as 120 years. For the Clos de Vougeot, the estate produces not only a standard cuvée but also an exclusive Vieilles Vignes version, using grapes only from vines older than 100 years.

The vineyards are predominantly managed organically. Traditional methods are only used under extreme conditions. All vineyard work – from pruning and maintaining the vines to the manual harvesting of grapes – is done by hand.

The knowledge of winemaking has been passed down through generations within the Raphet family. Their approach is traditional and as natural as possible, with minimal intervention. After the grapes are carefully destemmed, natural yeasts are allowed to carry out the fermentation in the cellar. The wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, about 15% of which are new. Finally, the wine is bottled by hand and without filtration.

Where guests used to move directly from the dark cellar to the family kitchen to taste the wines, they are now welcomed into a modern, light-filled tasting room. This is one of the most visible changes in recent years. However, Marion emphasizes that she remains true to family traditions and avoids making major changes. Still, a clear refinement can be tasted in the wines. The tannins are riper, and the wines display more finesse than before. Neil Martin of Vinous also noted this in his article "Burgundy Under the Radar," where he expressed his admiration for the recent vintages of Clos de Vougeot.

Whether this evolution is due to the warmer summers in Burgundy or Marion’s subtle influence remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the Gérard Raphet estate continues to stand as a model of craftsmanship and dedication, with a bright future ahead.