Rully may not get as much publicity as some of its Burgundian neighbours, but that simply makes this gorgeous wine one of Burgundy’s best kept secrets. This is a rich, moreish style with a signature honeyed note often associated with Rully.
Winemaker Hélène Jaeger-Defaix manages this estate in the same spirit as her vineyards and estate in nearby Chablis, and the influence of that region is clear in this pure and precise white wine. Quality is of the utmost importance here, with organic methods used in the vineyards (where the average vine age is an impressive 30 years old) and when it comes to the winery, only the very best fruit makes it into the final wine.
This really is a glorious take on white Burgundy, rich and textured yet pure and utterly refreshing. The nose and palate both offer lovely notes of white blossom, white peach and fresh apricots alongside a touch of elegant, textured creaminess and a wet stone minerality on the finish.
The Details:
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Style: Elegant, oaked, mineral, taut, leesy
Grape: Chardonnay
Abv: 13%
Producer
he Niepce family’s viticultural roots date back to the 16th century! In October 2002, Hélène Jaeger-Defaix took over her first vineyard in Rully from her great-aunt Henriette Niepce, which would bee her first step towards carrying on the long family tradition and passion for viticulture. Henri Niepce, the great-grandfather of Hélène, is one of the great figures of Rully, he was a significant contributor and advocate in the 1930’s for the village of Rully to obtain the AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) and later in building the international fame and reputation that the village garners today.
In November 2003, Hélène took over a second plot of vines and today she manages this estate in the same spirit as their vineyards and estate in Chablis. Farming organically, the vines have an average age of at least 35 years. All of the fruit is hand-picked and very carefully handled with sorting and gentle pressing, after the wine is aged for a further 18 months in oak barrels of 1 to 5 years old with moderate “batonnage” to enhance the elegance of the wine.
