A prestigious family-run estate
There are three main reasons why Domaine Gaston et Pierre Ravaut is one of our favourite estates: the warm welcome, the good-natured craftsmen and the high-quality wine.
Recognized as a family estate of very high quality, Vincent Ravaut produces great wines, including 1er Cru and Grand Cru, renowned worldwide for their character and complexity.
Impressive appellations
Domaine Gaston et Pierre Ravaut is situated in Côte-d'Or, at the foot of the famous Corton hill. This is the only area in Burgundy that produces both white and red Grands Crus. You’re likely already familiar with these renowned appellations: Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Aloxe-Corton, Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru and Ladoix.
A promising start
Gaston Ravaut, known as Le Tonton (not to be confused with his grandson, Gaston, nicknamed Le Tounet) began selling his estate’s wine in 1920. The product quickly became known for its quality and even earned him a medal at the 1936 Concours Général Agricole. And that was only the first chapter of the story!
From father to son
His son, Pierrot, developed the estate and succeeded in giving the Ladoix appellation a number of first growths in red. Reds for which people still travel today. On this great momentum, Pierrot's son, Gaston le Tounet, took over the reins, before passing them on in turn to his heirs, Pierre and Vincent. Today, Vincent has kept the management of 12 hectares of the Domaine Gaston et Pierre Ravaut. Since 2021, his son Jules, proud descendant of a line of winegrowers, has joined him in the business.
A pleasant surprise
During a 2014 tasting at Domaine Ravaut, we noticed that the 2014 reds were more refined than previous vintages. This was the result of major changes made to both the vines and the cellars. A 2014 oak-aged red revealed stronger aromas, more complexity and density and flavour characteristics. Shortly after we began to do business with the estate, the Bourgogne Aujourd’hui journal echoed our sentiments by reporting that Domaine Gaston et Pierre Ravaut’s 2014 vintage was a must-buy.
Their most prized plot
Vincent Ravaut has a soft spot for his estate’s Les Basses Mourottes Ladoix Premier Cru. The terroir is very unique and complex, as is the sub-soil. At Galleon, we have a special appreciation for the Corton-Charlemagne plot, where they produced one of the finest whites in the world, the 2014 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru.
Most memorable wine-tasting experience
“A 1953 Aloxe-Corton, a perfect wine that I shared with friends after my grandfather’s death in 2008. It was an emotional occasion made all the more memorable by this perfect wine.” - Vincent Ravaut
Behind the Wines
Vincent Ravaut
Vincent, a trained oenologist and amateur pilot, has successfully injected a decidedly youthful style into grape production and winemaking. He took over managing his family estate in 2013 and is also the Vice-President of Promotion Ladoix, an association of grape producers.