Domaine Raquillet : Mercurey 1er cru "Les Veleys" Cuvée Révélation 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the 2022 Mercurey 1er Cru "Les Veleys" Cuvée Révélation from Domaine Raquillet

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This wine reveals a deep colour with dark ruby hues, enhanced by garnet reflections.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with intense notes of fresh red fruits such as cherry, strawberry and raspberry. Ageing in barrel brings subtle spicy and toasted touches. Over time, more complex aromas of undergrowth, leather and game develop.

Palate
The texture is rich, dense and concentrated, offering a fine balance between power and structure. The tannins prove particularly silky. The whole is elevated by a mineral finish that brings a pleasant structuring freshness, evolving towards an increasingly smooth texture.

Food and Wine Pairings
This cuvée pairs wonderfully with grilled or sauced red meats, such as a rib steak or beef bourguignon. It also pairs perfectly with small game, poultry in sauce, dishes simmered with mild spices, as well as characterful cheeses such as époisses.

Serving and Cellaring
It is recommended to serve this wine at a temperature of 18°C. Decanting is advisable in its youth to fully release its aromas. This age-worthy wine has excellent potential and can be cellared for enjoyment until around 2032.

The Expression of a Great Pinot Noir from Burgundy by Domaine Raquillet

The Estate
Located in the heart of Burgundy, Domaine Raquillet was taken over and restructured into its current form in 1990 by François and Emmanuelle Raquillet, now joined by their daughter Jeanne. This fourteen-hectare family vineyard stands out as a true hallmark of quality within its appellation. Certified High Environmental Value (HVE) since 2022, the estate distinguishes itself through an artisanal approach, controlled yields and an in-depth knowledge of its terroirs, placing its wines among the region's most notable references.

The Vineyard
The grapes come from a 0.20-hectare micro-plot located within the Mercurey appellation. Facing due east to benefit from the morning sun, the vines grow in soil composed of low-limestone marl. This exceptional terroir is home to very old vines with an average age of 111 years, trained using simple Guyot pruning. The estate practises sustainable viticulture, including mechanical soil work with several ploughings per year, careful bud thinning for the health of the grapes, as well as natural leaf removal used as an alternative to anti-botrytis treatments.

Winemaking and Ageing
To craft this wine, the grapes are hand-harvested into crates, followed by rigorous sorting in the cellar. The harvest is 100% destemmed before undergoing a five-day cold pre-fermentation maceration at 12°C. Fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts in vat, with a vatting period of 18 to 22 days, while malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine is then aged for 18 months in oak barrels (50% new), before resting for a further six months in stainless steel vats to refine its tannins.

Grape Variety
Pinot Noir (100%)