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Domaine Gérard Raphet, Chambolle-Musigny, Les Bussières

Burgundy, France 2014 (750mL)
$59.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol
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Domaine Gérard Raphet, Chambolle-Musigny, Les Bussières


Domaine Gérard Raphet produces wines from the Bourgogne level all the way up to Grand Cru, predominantly in the Côte de Nuits. Gérard Raphet took the helm of the Domaine from his father in 2002. Although today’s wine is technically classified as a village-level wine, the advantageously situated lieu-dit of Les Bussières actually touches the serious Premier Cru Les Sentiers, which rests directly below the famous Grand Cru of Bonnes Mares. If you look at a map, you will notice that these special parcels run along the border of Morey-Saint-Denis. Here, the soils have a bit more clay in composition, which translates to a touch more body and structure akin to Morey, all the while retaining the delicate soul of Chambolle.

From this special pocket of the Côte de Nuits, Gérard Raphet works the family’s treasured vines by hand and farms with the, “lutte raisonnée,” approach, which literally translates to “the reasoned struggle.” This method of farming utilizes only organic products and practices, unless an extreme circumstance presents itself in a difficult vintage. With this viticultural focus, Gérard and his team use traditional cultivation methods and harvest only by hand. The grapes undergo strict sorting prior to fermentation, which takes place with only natural yeast. The wine is then aged in 15-25% new French oak barrels for 12-18 months, depending on the wine. The result is a wine that delivers the sense of place and feminine elegance of Chambolle-Musigny without the overt influence of new oak. 

The 2014 Les Bussières has a dark ruby red core that moves to pink and garnet reflections on the rim. The nose reveals elegant yet concentrated aromas of wild raspberry, strawberry, dried black cherry, fresh roses, flower stem, steeped black tea, mushrooms, wet forest floor and wet clay. The palate is soft in texture yet still firm with structured tannins and intense mineral components that will quickly soften and integrate within a few years in the cellar. This is a very young wine that should be aged, although it is impossible to not adore when young. This wine’s true potential lies between 5-10+ years of age and will probably achieve its greatest expression around 2020 to 2025 or longer, if kept perfectly. To enjoy a bottle now, decant for one hour and serve in large Burgundy stems, just above cellar temperature, alongside this traditional Burgundian classic - Coq au Vin. Enjoy!

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Country
France
Region
Burgundy
Sub-Region
FranceChambolle-Musigny
Soil
Limestone and Clay
Farming
Lutte Raisonée
Blend
Pinot Noir
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
25% New French

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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