Raphaëlle Guyot is a young, dynamic natural winemaker who established her domaine in 2018 in Sainte-Colombe-sur-Loing, Puisaye-Forterre, Yonne, in northwest Burgundy, near Auxerre. Originally from the Yonne, she pivoted from business school after a transformative tasting of Jo Landron’s Muscadet “Amphibolite” at 18. She earned a BTS in viticulture-oenology in Beaune (2015) and trained with esteemed producers like Thibault Liger-Belair (Nuits-Saint-Georges), La Grange Tiphaine (Amboise), Vincent Pinard (Sancerre), Cyril Fhal (Clos du Rouge Gorge), and Athénaïs de Béru (Chablis). Her domaine spans ~10 hectares, with 1.5–2 hectares currently in production (e.g., Les Hâtes, Les Robinettes), plus a small négociant operation sourcing organic grapes from Auxerrois and Chablis outskirts. Certified organic (Ecocert), her wines—vibrant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté, and Sauvignon Blanc—are known for freshness, minerality, and whole-cluster energy, reviving a pre-phylloxera viticultural region.

Winemaking Philosophy

• Organic Viticulture: Certified organic (Ecocert), with biodynamic principles (e.g., lunar calendar, agroforestry). Vines, planted in the early 2000s or replanted since 2018, grow on limestone slopes (south/southeast-facing) in Puisaye-Forterre’s biodiverse, wild landscape. High-trellised vines adapt to climate change, enhancing natural defenses. No synthetic chemicals; manual harvests ensure quality.

• Natural Winemaking: Whole-cluster fermentation (100% for Pinot Noir, 70% for Gamay), ambient yeast, minimal or no sulfites (0–15 ppm at bottling for some cuvées). No fining, no filtration, gentle vinification avoids over-extraction. Reds macerate 2–3 weeks; whites age 7–12 months in old oak barrels (e.g., L’Aurore: 7 months oak, 3 months tank), preserving freshness. Production is tiny (~2,000–3,000 bottles annually), with no estate fruit in 2021 due to frost.

• Grape Varieties and Cuvées:

  • Whites: Chardonnay (L’Aurore, Les Robinettes, Vin de France), Aligoté (Vin de France), Sauvignon Blanc (Sauvignon de Saint-Bris, Vin de France). Notes of pear, apple, citrus, and minerality (e.g., L’Aurore 2023: 13% ABV, creamy yet tense).

  • Reds: Pinot Noir (Les Robinettes, Le Baiser, Irancy AOC, Les Hâtes, Vin de France), Gamay (L’Idylle, Vin de France, semi-carbonic). Profiles are fruity, fresh, with violets, cherry, and fine tannins (e.g., L’Idylle 2023: 13.5% ABV, pure Gamay).

  • Experimental: Plans to plant Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and more Aligoté, leveraging Yonne’s unique Burgundy appellation allowing Sauvignon Blanc.

• Terroir: Puisaye-Forterre’s limestone hillsides, geographically closer to the Loire (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé) than Côte d’Or, mirror pre-phylloxera Yonne’s prolific vineyards (>200 hectares). Clay-limestone soils at 150–250 meters elevation yield vibrant, mineral-driven wines.

Background

• Founder: Raphaëlle Guyot, born in Yonne, raised in Paris, transitioned from business school to winemaking after global internships (China importer, Sancerre, Chablis harvests). Her mentors—Liger-Belair, Fhal, Pinard—shaped her rigorous, sensitive approach.

• Vision: To revive Puisaye-Forterre’s forgotten viticultural heritage, replanting abandoned parcels and crafting authentic, lively wines. Her project inspires other growers to rediscover Yonne’s potential.

• Scale: ~10 hectares total, with 1.5–2 hectares in production (0.5ha Les Hâtes, 0.75ha Chardonnay 2020, 1ha Chardonnay 2021). Négociant wines supplement low yields, using organic Auxerrois/Chablis grapes.

• Challenges: Frost wiped out 2021 estate fruit, relying on négociant production. Replanting bramble-covered plots (e.g., Les Hâtes) is labor-intensive, but historical records confirm their quality.