Rully blanc Joseph Drouhin

Grape Variety : Chardonnay.

Vineyard: Site: at the gates of the Côte d'Or, a few kilometers south of Santenay; this appellation is part of the Region of Mercurey.

History & tradition: the village of Rully is ancient; the land may have been cleared first by a Roman whose name was Rubilius.

Soil: secondary age limestone layers, in the continuation of Mercurey.

Area of the Drouhin Domaine: 1,2ha. (3 acres).

Viticulture: Biological cultivation since 1990; biodynamic cultivation a few years later. Vine stocks: "sélection massale" done in our own nursery (propagating new vine stocks from a number of selected vines) but also from clones of recognized quality. Soil maintenance: manure, white wood, sometimes guano (seabird manure used as fertilizer). Soil is ploughed either by tractor or by horses in order to prevent spreading of weeds. Treatment: only authorized products for biological cultivation are used - infusions and macerations of plant materials, sulfur and copper, powdered rock. Natural predators are not eliminated. Plantation density: from 10,000 to 12,500 stocks/ha in order to extract as much as possible from the terroir and limit the production of each vine stock. Pruning: Guyot. Yield: we aim for a lower yield, such as it existed before the new law. This yield is therefore the present maximum yield minus 20%.

Vinification: Supply: grapes and must are purchased from vineyard owners who are trusted supply partners. Harvesting: by hand, in small open crates in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit. Sorting: if necessary, the grapes are sorted twice : once when being picked, the second time on the sorting table at the winery. Pressing: very slow so as to respect fruit. Juices from the very last pressings are not retained. The wine goes directly into barrels after "débourbage" (decanting of white wine to reduce sediment). Ageing Type: in barrels (20% in new oak). Length: 6 to 8 months. Origin of the wood: French oak forests. Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine. Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.

Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin: "A wine full of charm! The colour is a beautiful white gold, with a ravishing purity and brilliance. The aromas are fresh and fruity, with nuances of broom shrub (genêt), almond and delicious preserved citrus notes. On the palate, it is fresh and elegant. A long and delicious aftertaste makes for a lasting impression".