Domaine Rapet
Overview
Family domaine based in Pernand-Vergelesses on the Côte de Beaune, run by Vincent Rapet. The domaine holds an important parcel of Corton-Charlemagne grand cru as well as premier cru vineyards in Pernand-Vergelesses (notably Sous Frétille) and Beaune (les Cents Vignes). Gilman (VFTC #114) rates the 2022 Corton-Charlemagne among the finest white wines in the report: “a great wine in the making” at 95 points. The Pernand-Vergelesses “Sous Frétille” premier cru is described as one of Gilman’s favorite premier crus in the Côte de Beaune, calling it “the spitting image of Corton-Charlemagne, without the need to wait six to eight years.”
Appellations
- Côte de Beaune
- Pernand-Vergelesses (villages, premier cru “Sous Frétille,” premier cru “les Combottes”)
- Corton-Charlemagne (grand cru blanc)
- Beaune premier cru “les Cents Vignes”
- Bourgogne Rouge “En Bully”
Key Wines
- Corton-Charlemagne — grand cru; 95 pts in 2022 (2032–2075); “great wine in the making”
- Pernand-Vergelesses “Sous Frétille” 1er Cru — 92 pts in 2022; “spitting image of Corton-Charlemagne”
- Beaune “les Cents Vignes” 1er Cru — 92+ pts in 2022
- Pernand-Vergelesses “les Combottes” — 90 pts in 2022; “first class villages”
Style Notes
Classical Côte de Beaune style with judicious use of oak (Sous Frétille and Corton-Charlemagne show vanillin oak integration). The whites are defined by pure apple and pear fruit, fresh almond notes, and chalky limestone minerality. The 2022s show “great mineral drive and grip” and “backend energy” particularly in the grand cru. Red wines (Beaune Cents Vignes, Bourgogne En Bully) are properly structured and built for cellaring.
2022 Vintage Notes (VFTC #114)
Excellent showing across all levels. Corton-Charlemagne is the star.
- Bourgogne Rouge “En Bully”: 88 pts (2029–2045+)
- Pernand-Vergelesses “les Combottes”: 90 pts (2025–2045) whites
- Pernand-Vergelesses “Sous Frétille” 1er Cru: 92 pts (2026–2050) — “still a puppy, needs a couple of years”
- Beaune “les Cents Vignes” 1er Cru: 92+ pts (2035–2075+)
- Corton-Charlemagne: 95 pts (2032–2075) — “deep, pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core; great mineral drive”
2023 Red Burgundy Notes (VFTC #117)
Gilman covered four 2023 reds from Rapet after allowing them two months to settle from their Atlantic crossing (a key tip: he advises not opening newly-arrived red Burgundies within 30 days of trans-ocean voyage — they show thin, acidic, and light in color). He notes: “Domaine Rapet is really making beautiful wines these days.”
| Wine | Score | Drink |
|---|---|---|
| Corton (Les Chaumes + Les Combes, 50yo vines, 20% new oak) | 94 | 2045–2100 |
| Beaune “les Cents Vignes” 1er Cru (30yo, 30% new oak) | 92 | 2033–2075+ |
| Savigny-lès-Beaune “aux Fournaux” (60yo vines, straddles PC/villages) | 92 | 2035–2075+ |
| Chorey-lès-Beaune “Vieilles Vignes” (30% new oak) | 89 | 2031–2060 |
2024 Vintage Notes (Burghound #102)
Vincent Rapet progressively transferring to son Robin. Robin described 2024 as “rough going basically from the beginning.” Poor flowering due to weather + mildew (already attacked before flowering). Picked Sept 17–22. Chardonnay ~35 hl/ha; pinot 7–28 hl/ha. Potential alcohols 11.5–12.5%; some wines lightly chaptalized. ~30% whole clusters, soft vinification over 10–15 day cuvaison. Reds bottled Nov–Dec 2025 using natural cork (Diam for Bourgogne and villages). No Chorey-les-Beaune VV in 2024 (yields too low).
2024 Scores (bottled):
- Corton (from Les Perrieres and Chaumes et Voierosse): 92 — more volume and density; bigger-bodied; grippiness should fade; “clearly built-to-age”
- Beaune “Les Greves” 1er (50+ year old vines): 91 — “lovely sense of underlying tension”; appealingly textured; “quite often one of Rapet’s better wines and so it is again in 2024”
- Pernand-Vergelesses “Ile de Vergelesses” 1er (40+ year old vines): 91 — “strikingly pure, spicy, airy and perfumed”; gorgeously textured; “lovely and understated”
- Beaune “Les Bressandes” 1er: 90 — kirsch and maraschino cherry notes; better mid-palate concentration
- Pernand-Vergelesses “Les Vergelesses” 1er: 90 — pretty; needs better depth
- Beaune “Cents Vignes” 1er: 89 — reduced; lighter weight but pretty
- Beaune “Clos du Roi” 1er: 89 — reduced; seductive mid-palate
- Aloxe-Corton: 89 — “really quite good and worthy of your interest”
- Savigny “Aux Fourneaux” 1er: 89 — reduced; awkward; needs time
- Savigny “Aux Fourneaux” (villages): 88 — unusually refined; should drink well early
- Pernand “Les Belles Filles”: 87 — delicious if a bit skinny
- Bourgogne “En Bully”: 86
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Nov-Dec 2024 #114.txt(pages 11–12, 22–23)- VFTC #117 (John Gilman, May-June 2025), pages 130–132 — four 2023 red Burgundies; the final installment of VFTC’s 2023 red Burgundy coverage
sources/articles/Burghound/Burghound Issue 102 - 2024 and 2023 Cote de Beaune Reds.txt