Domaine Rapet Père et Fils

Domaine Rapet Père et Fils is a family producer based in Pernand-Vergelesses, with roots in the village dating back to 1765. This ancestry is documented by a family tastevin engraved with that year, which has been passed down through generations. While the family has farmed in the region for centuries, the modern era of the estate began in the 1930s when Robert Rapet initiated estate bottling. His son Roland expanded operations in the 1950s, followed by Vincent Rapet, who joined in the mid 1980s. Today, Vincent and his wife Sylvette manage the property alongside their sons, Robin and Louis, who represent the newest generation of the family lineage.

The estate manages approximately 20 hectares of vineyards across several Côte de Beaune communes, including Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny lès Beaune, Aloxe Corton, and Beaune. Holdings include significant parcels in the Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru and several Premier Crus such as Ile des Vergelesses and Sous Frétille. The soils consist of a mixture of limestone marl, silica, and iron. Viticultural practices focus on sustainability, and the domaine achieved High Environmental Value (HVE) Level 3 certification in 2018. White wines are produced from Chardonnay through whole cluster pressing and fermentation in oak barrels, including some larger 350 liter formats and concrete eggs. Red wines from Pinot Noir undergo a 15 day fermentation with regular cap punching followed by maturation in oak barrels. The winery utilizes gravity and bellows for racking to avoid the use of pumps and minimize grape handling.

The domaine is best known for its significant presence on the hill of Corton, particularly as one of the largest owners of the Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru. Its portfolio includes a wide range of appellations that span both red and white wines, which is a distinctive feature in a region where many producers specialize in one or the other. Signature cuvées include the Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru Les Vergelesses and the Beaune Premier Cru Clos du Roi. The estate has earned a reputation for a classical and understated winemaking style that emphasizes fruit purity and mineral tension. Critics frequently note the long term aging potential of their Grand Cru bottlings, which often reveal complex tertiary notes of truffle and leather after several years in the cellar.