Meet the Winemakers

François Raquillet

François Raquillet is an 11th generation vigneron and having run the family domaine for 30 years he is vastly experienced, and recognised as, possibly, the best producer in the village of Mercurey. His daughter Jeanne joined the business marking the start of the 12th generation.

The domaine holds 10 hectares of superbly sited, mostly old, vines. François believes in low yields, mature (rather than super-ripe) fruit and a severe selection at the table de tri (sorting table). The depth, richness and concentration which characterise his wines are a result of this, rather than any over extraction

The Mercurey Vieilles Vignes, from 3 parcels of 60 year old vines (1-3 year old barrels) is delicious, juicy and seductive, whilst the 1er Crus have even more depth, richness and potential longevity. Les Veleys is a 0.8 hectare plot of 60 year old vines in the sector of Chamirey, on heavier marne soils (30% new oak).

As I have written before, this domaine, presided over by the genial François Raquillet, produces some of the best red wines in Mercurey—and in all of the Côte Chalonnaise. (...) The latest news is that Raquillet is abandoning herbicides, returning to cultivating the soils—a development I warmly applaud. Robert Parker, www.robertparker.com