Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi 2022 Domaine Rapet

The Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi 2023 from Domaine Rapet Père et Fils is among the most majestic and serious red premiers crus in the range, a wine connoisseurs describe as a distant cousin of Corton Clos du Roi for its profound and lofty character. This Beaune climat is not a premier cru like the others: situated north of the commune, it borders the vines of Savigny-lès-Beaune and shares with the great crus of Corton a depth and structure that set it distinctly apart from the lighter, more floral premiers crus of the appellation. In the precise and rigorous hands of Vincent Rapet, it produces a wine of incomparable fruit with very soft, fine, tender and dense tannins.

The terroir of Clos du Roi

Situated north of the Beaune commune, Clos du Roi occupies gently sloping terrain at the boundary with Savigny-lès-Beaune, in a sector where the terroir begins to share characteristics with the nearby Corton hillside. The soil is stony, sandy and highly draining, a composition that ensures remarkable drainage, naturally limits vine vigour and gives Pinot Noir fruit of rare intensity and frankness. It is a terroir that yields fruity, rich wines with silky tannins, characteristic of optimal grape ripeness. The history of Domaine Rapet's vines on this climat bears witness to determination: entirely replanted after the great frost of winter 1985 that had paralysed Burgundy's vineyards, these now forty-year-old vines are beginning to reach full maturity and produce wines of fine complexity. Winemaking, faithful to the domaine's philosophy, rests on harvesting in small crates, meticulous sorting in the cellar, a fifteen-day fermentation with regular punchdowns, and ageing in oak barrels with only 20 per cent new wood, sufficient to bring structure and complexity without ever masking the fruit or terroir.

Tasting profile

The colour is a bright ruby with violet reflections, limpid and brilliant, characteristic of a Pinot Noir vinified with precision and minimal intervention. The nose is expressive and immediately generous: complex aromas of ripe red fruits, cherry, raspberry, blood orange, pomegranate, mingle with floral notes of peony and violet, lifted by soft spices and a light menthol touch at the glass's edge. On the palate, the attack is ample and rounded, carried by a refined and very soft tannin structure, the signature of perfectly ripe grapes vinified with delicacy. The structure is fine, tender and dense at once, with well-integrated acidity that brings balance and length. The finish is silky, fruity and subtly menthol-tinged, with pleasant persistence that invites both patience and immediate pleasure. A wine of immediate appeal and remarkable ageing potential over ten years.

The domaine

Domaine Rapet Père et Fils is one of Burgundy's oldest and most respected winemaking families, a silver tastevin engraved 'Rapet' dating from 1765, passed down through generations, attests to this. Now run by Vincent Rapet and his son Robin, the domaine extends across 20 hectares spread over the prestigious appellations of northern Côte de Beaune. Bettane & Desseauve describe it as 'unquestionably one of the finest white winemakers of his generation', adding that 'the reds, increasingly finely made, are joining the whites in quality'. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3, the domaine practises rigorous viticulture and meticulous work, with the careful gestures and precautions that minimise handling of grape and wine to preserve its full richness.

Food and wine pairings

This Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi will pair beautifully with duck breast with cherries, roasted lamb shoulder with Provençal herbs, beef fillet en croûte with wild mushrooms, roasted Bresse poultry or grilled firm-fleshed fish such as turbot or sea bass. It will also find fine harmony with aged soft cheeses like Époisses or Soumaintrain. Served at 15°C with light decanting recommended, it will reveal all the depth and finesse of a great Beaune Premier Cru.