Domaine Gérard Raphet Cuvée Unique Bourgogne Rouge Les Grands Champs 2023

In the rarefied world of Burgundy, the name Gérard Raphet needs no introduction. The family has been farming some of the best vineyards in the Cotes de Nuit for over 100 years, and has made a name for themselves without ever having stepped foot in a university viticulture or enology program. All of their know-how comes from generations of just doing the endless, hands-on work, and the results are masterful.

Raphet is well-known as a “Burgundy lover's Burgundy,” making beautifully crafted wines from old vines since the 1920s. Gérard took over the domaine in 2005 as the main winemaker, though his daughter, Marion, helps out in the cellar and in the vineyards now when needed. The two of them touch every aspect of the winemaking process, from vine to glass, to ensure that they are crafting the best wine they possibly can. Hand harvesting and native yeast fermentation are de rigueur, and then the wines are aged for 18 months in older French oak barrels. These are unfined and unfiltered, and typically come from very old vines! That’s the really cool thing about his wines – Gérard has redefined what old-vine Burgundy is and can become.

Not kidding. This drinks WAY over its price tag. Les Grands Champs Cuvee Unique is a dark, rich, brooding, deeply complex wine, and is unfined, unfiltered, and spent 18 months in used French oak. Location-wise, it’s important to know that the vineyard is downslope from the Grand Cru Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, and is also completely flanked by Gevrey-Chambertin vineyards. It would be a fascinating and illuminating exercise to put this up against a lot of much pricier Gevrey wines!

With aromas of autumnal leaves crunching on damp soil, alongside ripe red raspberries and clove, this is magnificently complex, sophisticated, and balanced. Flavors of pomegranate reduction with accents of blood orange, black cherry, cinnamon, underbrush, wild herbs, and cedar add a layered elegance, with a pronounced acidic minerality that hums gently in the background. So much to love here, for an incredible price. In short? Load up on this gem -- simply a stunning value you won’t regret.

PAIRING IDEAS: The spice and earthiness of this wine will go swimmingly with this recipe of paprika and cinnamon roast chicken with lentils – warming, exotic, and all-around fun to enjoy together!