Article: Domaine Ravaut - Ladoix
Domaine Ravaut - Ladoix
The wine world is changing in ways few could have predicted twenty years ago. While climate change has created challenges across the globe, it has also transformed certain regions that historically struggled to achieve full ripeness. One of the biggest beneficiaries? Ladoix. If you had told me fifteen years ago that I'd be enthusiastically recommending a wine from this region, I wouldn't have believed you. In fact, I remember driving out of Beaune with a longtime Burgundian friend and asking if there was anything worth drinking in Ladoix. His response: "I wouldn't know, I've never stopped."
As it sits at a crossroads in Burgundy, Ladoix marks the northern gateway to the Côte de Beaune while resting directly beneath the famed Hill of Corton. To one side lies Aloxe-Corton, home to some of Burgundy's most celebrated Grand Crus, while Pernand-Vergelesses borders the village from the west. For generations, Ladoix existed in the shadow of these prestigious neighbors as it struggled for ripeness, yet sharing many of the same limestone-rich soils and ideal exposures that make the area so special. Domaine Ravaut's vineyards have no doubt benefited from this privileged location in recent years making what was once considered a forgotten corner of Burgundy a quietly emerging source of value.
I first introduced this wine in 2024, and it virtually sold out upon arrival, prompting me to secure additional inventory. I was surprised to find a small quantity still tucked away and naturally, we had to open a bottle to see how it was showing. It was even more enjoyable today than when I first offered it. The nose is immediately expressive, offering vibrant red and black fruits with hints of spice and crushed stone. On the palate, the wine expands beautifully, coating the mouth with silky texture and surprising depth. It's generous, seamless, and remarkably easy to drink. The kind of bottle that disappears faster than expected.
Domaine Ravaut Ladoix “Les Carriers” and the 1er Cru “La Corvee” deliver that ‘sexy appellation’ experience without demanding the $80–100 price tag that often comes with wines of this quality. There was a time that wines in this price point were somewhat easy to stumble upon, now it takes a bit more searching.
For those looking for that truly great burgundy experience without spending a small fortune, look no further than these two stunning wines from Ladoix
A five-generation family domaine based in Ladoix-Serrigny, farming 12 hectares at the northern edge of the Côte de Beaune, in the shadow of the Corton hill.
Ladoix remains one of Burgundy's best-kept secrets — serious terroir at a fraction of the price of its neighbors to the north..
The 2022 is everything you want from a village Burgundy: bright ruby color, red cherry and earth on the nose, fine-grained tannin, and a clean, refreshing finish.
Aged 12 months in French oak with just 15% new wood, this is a wine that drinks beautifully now but will reward another three to five years in the cellar.
A baby Corton with plenty of depth and intensity
La Corvée is the domaine's signature cuvée — 1.23 hectares of hard limestone with full southern exposure, right at the boundary of the Côte de Nuits. The terroir shows.
Only 3,500 bottles produced. Premier cru Burgundy at $49 is the kind of value that disappears quickly.
Concrete vat, indigenous yeast, 12 months in French oak with just 15% new wood. Restrained winemaking that lets the stone and fruit speak.
Deep, almost blood-red in the glass, with dark cherry, plum, and a saline mineral finish. Drink it now or cellar five to eight years.
