The Ragot family have traced their wine growing history back to 1760 when Gabriel Ragot tended vines in Mercurey. Bringing us right up to date, Jean-Paul Ragot’s son Nicolas entered the business in 2002. Large investments were made in the winery and vineyards over the next year, with new tanks and an underground barrel room constructed and certain non-productive parcels replanted. Jean-Paul retired in 2008, leaving Nicolas in sole control of the domaine.
It’s been 20 years since Domaine Ragot chose to no longer use weedkiller. Their conviction is to cultivate vines on living soil where flora and fauna coexist part of the year, without excessive competition for our vineyard. Already a member of the Federation of Independent Winegrowers, the estate has just validated the HVE Level 3 certification. This High Environmental Value certification attests that they promote biodiversity and that they are engaged in alternative practices respecting the ecosystem of the land where we cultivate our vines and produce our wine.
In order to preserve the resources of our soils, we produce energy from biomass by crushing the branches. The recovery of rainwater is useful to carry out phytosanitary treatments as well as the cleaning of the equipment. Phytobac is a patented technical process recognized by the state authorities which allows the treatment of rinsing water by biological bed. The winery and the farm equipment storage building are covered with photovoltaic panels whose annual production is greater than our consumption. In order to preserve biodiversity, all trees, hedges and low walls are preserved and maintained. Filtration is by kieselgur.
This wine comes from a total of 1.25 hectares of Pinot Noir vines (average age: 50 years) grown on clay and limestone soils. The wine is aged in oak barrels, 20% of which is new, for 12 months.
Domaine Ragot Givry Vieilles Vignes is a superb value Pinot Noir with an abundance of fragrant raspberry and red cherry fruit and gentle vanilla spice notes. It is quite concentrated with raspberry, cassis fruits and shows superbly balanced oak notes along with a herbal finish. A great wine to drink now or keep for several years.
