Under the Radar in Burgundy: The Beautiful Wines of Vincent Rapet in Pernand-Vergelesses!
1/17/23 -
Since the 2005 vintage we have been happily offering the delicious Burgundies of Vincent Rapet, now joined by his son Robin. Based in Pernand-Vergelesses, Rapet Pere et Fils produces wines in Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-les-Beaune, Corton and Chorey-les-Beaune. While the grand crus here are superb - a 1985 Corton tasted in 2011 was in perfect condition, a gloriously complex and profound wine in it's prime - today's email features three very affordable reds from 2020 that are insanely delicious, perfect for current drinking and over the next 3 to 8 years!
2020 Bourgogne Rouge "En Bully" The vineyard is tucked away behind the hill of Corton, at an altitude of 350 meters, on the slope facing les Hautes-Côtes in a lieu-dit named "La Grande Corvée de Bully." The soil here is marly limestone with a shallow top-layer. In warm vintages this cool spot produces a fresh and vibrant Pinot, lush and ripe but balanced with lovely refreshing acidity. The 2020 is just delicious, showing a bright red/garnet color and very floral aromas of ripe, crushed berries, rose petal and earth. The palate is lush and beautifully balanced with velvety cherry and raspberry fruit with mineral, earth and citrus notes that linger in the refreshing, sappy finish. Just a delightful red Burgundy - serve a bit cool and enjoy!
2020 Pernand-Vergelesses "Les Belles Filles" "Les Belles Filles" is a northern extension of "Iles des Vergelesses" and "En Carradeux" facing east and situated across from the village of Pernand. The slope is quite steep and erosion is limited by limestone banks. The soil takes on a red colour due to the ferruginous clay present in the ground. The 2020 "Belle Filles" is quite beautiful, beginning with the usual floral tart cherry and raspberry aromas found in this wine; with aeration, the aromas deepen into earthy black cherry with hints of licorice and graphite. The palate shows ripe black cherry and strawberry fruit with earth and quite pronounced mineral flavors, dense and deep but still light on its feet and balanced with firm acidity. Drink now and over the next five to eight years.
2020 Chorey-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes "The roots of our old Chorey-les-Beaune-vines reach deep down into an alluvial marly limestone soil on a stony, slightly ferruginous ground, descended from the Côte de Savigny and Aloxe over thousands of years." This is a lovely Burgundy for current drinking, showing deep, lush aromas of cherry and plum with violet, brown spice and earth notes. The palate is round and lush but with great minerality as well with a terrific, long sappy finish.
Rounding out our offer of Rapet's reds are three 1er and Grand Cru wines that belong in your cellar: 2020 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Fournaux," 2019 Beaune 1er Cru "Clos du Roi" and the superb 2020 Corton - all are reasonably priced given the outstanding quality!
The white wines of Pernand-Vergelesses are unique and distinctive, both because of the terroir of limestone marl with silca and iron and because of the altitude and exposure which bring freshness and a crystalline purity to these very mineral-laden Chardonnays. The 2019 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "En Caradeux" and the 2019 1er Cru "Sous Fretille" are marvelous wines that will repay 5 to 10 years of cellaring.
The Rapets have 2.5 hectares of Corton-Charlemagne in 4 parcels, 3 in Pernand and 1 in Aloxe, with a mix of old and young vines on typically thin stony soils over hard limestone. The 2020 is a lovely combination of delicacy and concentration. Subtle and complex aromas, a palate that is not fat but round and very long with great finishing chalky acidity. This should age beautifully, try to wait 6 to 10 years before drinking....
The estate has always worked well in the vines, with shallow plowing and cover crops, and is now officially in conversion for organic certification. Harvesting is by hand into small baskets, with careful sorting, no pumping and gentle extraction. White wines: fermentation and aging in 350L oak barrels, from new to 5 years old. Some eggs are used as well (6 /7 hectoliters). 12 month in barrel and 1 to 3 months in inox tank. Red wines: aging in 228L oak barrels, from new to 5 years old. 13 months in barrel and 2 to 4 months in inox tank. For both red and white, new oak proportion: 30% Grand Cru, 20% Premier Cru, 10% Village, none Bourgogne.
