Youth and determination

We've been waiting a long time to introduce you to Raphaëlle Guyot's wines. We've had to be patient, thanks to a very small production and an ever-growing number of friends in the wine trade. 

It has to be said that the young woman inspires as much as her wines. Trained by Thibault Liger Belair, Cyril Fhal and Vincent Pinard, and with a passion for vines and wine, she decided to set up home in Puisaye Forterre, halfway between the Sancerrois and Chablis regions, to realize her dream of becoming a winemaker. Unfortunately, vines are in short supply in this part of Burgundy, and in 2018, all she could find was fallow land, which she replanted with Chardonnay two years later. In 2019, she got her hands on a second one-hectare plot and once again planted a lovely Chardonnay.

All in all, Raphaëlle Guyot now has 1.5 hectares in production in the "Vin de Pays de l'Yonne" appellation. She has opted for a high trellised vineyard, to adapt to climate change and naturally reinforce the plant's defences. Organic treatments, agroforestry, respect for living organisms and listening to her ecosystem are all part of her daily routine and balance. 

In terms of vinification, it's no surprise that we're dealing with lively wines, gently accompanied, without forced extraction or excessive crushing. No chemicals are used, apart from an ounce of sulfur sometimes added if the wine is fickle when young. 

This week, we present 2 cuvées: La Valse 2022, a very fine sauvignon made from parcel-selected grapes produced by our trading business, direct pressed and aged in barrels for 12 months. It's a dense, invigorating wine that delighted us with its energy; Les Robinettes 2022, a superb whole-cluster Pinot from a 15-day maceration and aged in barrels of several wines for 12 months. These two wines perfectly illustrate the profile of this talented young winemaker, and we're likely to be hearing a lot more about her...