Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 'Sous Frétille', Domaine Rapet Père & Fils, 2023
Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 'Sous Frétille', Domaine Rapet Père & Fils, 2023
- White Still
- Chardonnay
- Organic
Please note, en primeur wines are not available for delivery until they arrive in the UK
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Est. delivery in 2026
Domaine Rapet, located on the edge of the Hautes-Côtes d’Or, operates with a clear commitment to organic viticulture, with all vineyards certified as such. The domaine’s holdings include a significant proportion of vines planted in 1960, now providing the estate with mature, low-yielding vineyards that yield concentrated and terroir-expressive fruit.
"Situated on the hill beneath the Notre Dame de Bonnes Espérances, this cuvée boasts a dense and powerful profile. The palate reveals notes of white pepper, a hint of salinity, and a textured minerality. This is a wine of great intensity and length, with a filigree structure that promises excellent ageing potential."
Our note
The viticultural approach is meticulous, with leaf removal carried out for both red and white grape varieties. This technique ensures optimal ripening conditions by improving sunlight exposure and air circulation within the canopy, thereby reducing disease pressure. During vinification, approximately 70% of the grapes are destemmed, while the remaining 30% are left as whole bunches, contributing to additional aromatic complexity and fine tannin structure.
In the cellar, Domaine Rapet favours a gravity-flow system to minimise mechanical handling and preserve the integrity of the fruit. The fermentations are gentle, with no punch-downs, aiming for a more delicate extraction. Ageing is carried out in a diverse range of vessels, including large 1,200-litre foudres, 650-litre barrels, concrete eggs, and 750-litre amphorae. This nuanced use of different materials and volumes allows for precision in highlighting the character of each cuvée, balancing fruit purity with textural complexity.
What the critics say:
"Rapet's "baby Corton-Charlemagne," the 2023 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille, delivers aromas of spring flowers, white currants, crisp orchard fruit and wet stones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and mineral palate that's racy and penetrating, concluding with a gently aromatic finish."
"From two parcels in the upper section of the climat, where most of the vines were planted in the 1960s. “0.6ha [1.5 acres] catch the sunrise and 0.4ha [1 acre], the sunset. We have much less topsoil here than in Charlemagne, and even if it is exposed to the south, it is harvested late because of the trees at the top.” A 20hl foudre and 250-liter barrels, 20% new. 13.5% ABV. I like the citrus slice on the nose, which is also a touch floral. A much straighter palate than the En Caradeux; austere rather than muscular, with good grip and tension. Quite a powerful, sapid finish. Excellent Sous Frétille. 2026–32."
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