Vigneron: The Domaine Ravaut is an old-school Burgundy domaine. Family-run for centuries, they sell much of their wine to local clientele and restaurants, and make delicious, well-priced cuvées (white and red) from humble appellations. The Wine Advocate’s William Kelley recently made his inaugural visit, reporting that he “found plenty to admire,” and calling the 2018 reds lineup “hearty, characterful wines with plenty of stuffing.”
Vintage: The 2018 vintage was among the warmest in a century, and Ravuat’s reds carry the hallmarks of a sunny growing season. The wines show intense ripe fruit, concentrated textures, and pretty notes of spice and earth. Winemaker Vincent Ravaut deftly avoided the overripeness trap set by the vintage, and his signature mineral tension and energy balance these wines beautifully.
Wine: The 2018 Bourgogne rouge bursts with fruit and life. It carries Ravaut’s signature dark intensity, but delivers this on juicy, perfectly ripe red fruit. Look for currants, anise, cinnamon, and earthy violets in the nose. The mouth delivers beautiful texture, with crisp red fruits playing of mouthwatering tannin and a clean distilled finish.
The wine is also a striking bargain. It’s hard to find quality red Burgundy under $30 these days, and this well overperforms its $5/glass pricetag. Pair it with simple chicken thighs with mushrooms and mustard in cream. For everyday red Burgundy, it’s hard to think of a better value.
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Ravaut Bourgogne rouge 2018
bottle price: $25
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES