Domaine Rapet is the most important landowner on the Hill of Corton with a viticultural history that goes back to 1795. The estate boasts 22 hectares covering 13 appellations, making the Rapet estate one of the Cote de Beaune’s finest sources. Critically, Rapet’s wines reflect their origins and not their maker. For any student of wine wanting to know the differences between the regions AC’s, this is a terrific source. “The terroir speaks in our wines” . . . . . Robin Rapet

As though proof were needed, readers might be interested to know that the French publication Guide Hachette is the French imbibers ‘go-to’ reference for sourcing annual ‘high achievers'. A listing of any wine in Guide Hachette is a fine recommendation indeed. The Guide Hachette wines are tasted by a panel of French sommeliers. Each year they list their wine ratings and each year one grower is selected as France’s highest achiever. Vincent Rapet is the Guide Hachette’s Wine Maker of the Year 2024. A fine achievement indeed and for good reason too.

Though Vincent Rapet has been at the helm of this historic estate since 1990, today it is the turn of Rapet’s son Robin. The domaine’s 2021 vintage wines are noteworthy for the quality in what proved to be a difficult year. It is clear that the success of the estate is assured. Robin has his father’s eye for detail. He has introduced aquarium heaters that can encourage slow fermentation on a barrel-by-barrel basis, rather than warming the entire cellar. He uses concrete eggs on certain cuvees to add a tenser, fresher profile to the wine. No expense is spared at bottling either, using Diam corks and the bottling line is nitrogen assisted. Despite some expensive equipment, the vinification at the Domaine is very traditional with natural yeasts, fermentation in barrel, amphora tanks and cement eggs and 12 months ageing in barrel with about 20-30% new oak, depending on the wine.

The recently arrived 2022 vintage wines represent some of the finest in the Cote de Beaune and Domaine Rapet has become an address to follow. The wines are increasingly sought-after on the international stage. Vinostito are proud to be the ambassadors for Domaine Rapet here in Ireland. The wines are very fine and offer considerable value in the context of the region. Don’t miss them.